Including Former Staff... Why Is Seoul National University Hospital Leading an Indefinite Strike? (Comprehensive)

"Pressure from Hospitals Concerned About Treatment Gaps Sparks Medical Staff Backlash"

On the 21st, a resident training at a general hospital, including interns and residents, is holding a solo protest in front of the main building of Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul, opposing the government's policy to expand the quota of medical school students. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] Even the fellows at Seoul National University Hospital, a national university hospital, have joined the indefinite strike demanding the withdrawal of government policies such as increasing the quota for medical school students. It is analyzed that the hospital’s pressure, including sending warning texts prohibiting residents from participating in the strike a day before the Korean Medical Association’s general strike on the 14th, triggered backlash not only from residents but also from fellows.

According to the Seoul National University Hospital Fellows’ Association on the 24th, about 300 fellows from three hospitals?Seoul National University Hospital, Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, and Boramae Hospital?began an indefinite strike from 7 a.m. that day. A representative of the Fellows’ Association said, "To improve the flaws in the government’s four major medical policies (increasing medical school quotas, establishing a public medical school, coverage of herbal medicine, and non-face-to-face medical treatment), we are joining the residents’ indefinite strike starting today," adding, "Seoul National University Hospital, Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, and Boramae Hospital have also started collective action."

Seoul National University Hospital and Bundang Seoul National University Hospital are conducting one-person picket promotions criticizing the government’s four major medical policies in front of each hospital’s lobby, and are running a blood donation relay campaign to supply blood, which may be insufficient due to the COVID-19 situation, at each hospital.

The Fellows’ Association stated, "We are engaging in collective action to contribute even a little to improving the four major medical policies that could misuse the public’s tax money," and added, "We hope to support the actions of medical students and residents and encourage participation from other specialists."

The medical industry is paying close attention to whether the strike by fellows at Seoul National University Hospital will lead to strikes by fellows at other tertiary hospitals such as Seoul Asan Medical Center, Samsung Seoul Hospital, and Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital. So far, the participation rate of fellows at tertiary hospitals known as the ‘Big 5’ has been low. A representative from Seoul Asan Medical Center said, "Only two out of about 300 fellows took annual leave." A representative from Seoul Severance Hospital said, "There has been no official statement from the fellows yet." At Samsung Seoul Hospital, 16 out of 266 fellows, about 6%, have taken annual leave.

The medical industry views that the reason why fellows at Seoul National University Hospital, a national university hospital among the Big 5 tertiary hospitals, have taken the lead in the strike is because the hospital pressured medical staff by sending text messages threatening disadvantages if they left, fearing a medical service gap a day before the Korean Medical Association’s general strike on the 14th. The hospital’s response to the strike concerns rather provoked backlash from the medical staff. On the 13th, the Education and Training Team of the Education and Human Resources Development Office at Seoul National University Hospital sent a text message to interns affiliated with the hospital stating, "The hospital does not allow interns to take collective annual leave or go out for group actions on the 14th."

An official from a tertiary hospital said, "Seoul National University Hospital, fearing the strike, sent texts to residents including interns and residents on the 14th, urging them to stay at the hospital on the day of the strike and pressured them by threatening disadvantages if they left, which caused backlash from residents and fellows." Another official from a tertiary hospital expressed concern, saying, "Since Seoul National University Hospital is a national university hospital with symbolic significance, it is highly likely to influence the actions of fellows at other hospitals in the future."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.