Kyungsillyeon: "KMA Must Withdraw Second Mass Strike... Considering Legal Action if Proceeded"

Economic Justice Practice Citizens' Coalition / Photo by Kyungsilryeon Provided

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The Korean Medical Association (KMA) has announced a second nationwide doctors' strike for three days starting on the 26th, prompting civic groups to urge its withdrawal.

The Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice (CCEJ) stated in a press release on the 25th, "If the strike led by the doctors' group is not withdrawn, the public will be exposed to the worst medical vacuum situation amid the rapidly spreading COVID-19 crisis," adding, "If the doctors' group proceeds with the second strike, CCEJ will consider filing complaints against the KMA and others, and will also file charges against the government for dereliction of duty for not responding strictly, while launching civic actions."

They explained, "According to Article 59 of the Medical Service Act, the Minister of Health and Welfare or the mayor/governor of a city or province may issue necessary guidance and orders to medical institutions or medical personnel if there is or is likely to be a serious threat to public health," and "Violations may result in suspension of medical business, cancellation of establishment permits, or suspension of medical licenses."

CCEJ argued, "The expansion of medical school quotas and the establishment of public medical schools to resolve public medical service gaps and imbalances can no longer be delayed," and "In a situation where shortages of public medical personnel in vulnerable areas and imbalances among medical specialties are evident, the doctors' group's claim that there is no shortage of doctors is unconvincing."

CCEJ also stated, "The government bears significant responsibility for worsening the situation," adding, "In implementing public healthcare policies that guarantee the public's basic medical rights, the government has always been more concerned about the doctors and hospitals than the public and has maintained a passive stance."

They continued, "Regarding the regional doctor system, the government should have clarified its policy goal of expanding public healthcare by establishing new national and public medical schools with separate curricula for training public doctors, but instead introduced an ambiguous system that is neither private nor public, providing doctors with grounds for opposition."

CCEJ urged, "The KMA and the Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA) should withdraw the unjustified strike and join forces with the government to promote policies to strengthen primary care and reform the collapsed medical delivery system, recognizing that this is the way to normalize healthcare and alleviate uncertainties about the future."

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