[D-1 Doctors' General Strike] Government-Medical Agreement Reset, General Strike Proceeding... Online Coverage (Summary)

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] On the eve of the general strike, the Korean Medical Association (KMA), which had been negotiating with the government, ultimately failed to reach an agreement and decided to proceed with the 2nd nationwide doctors' general strike on the 26th. Despite five face-to-face meetings over the past three days and continued unofficial behind-the-scenes negotiations on the 25th, it appears that the gap in positions could not be narrowed.

The KMA announced on the 25th that the general strike, scheduled from the 26th to the 28th, will be conducted online under the theme "Hope Together" via the association's YouTube channel (KMA-TV). Considering the risk of a resurgence of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the strike will be held in a non-face-to-face manner.

◆ 'Non-face-to-face' amid COVID-19 resurgence phase = A KMA official stated, "During the 1st nationwide doctors' general strike on the 14th, the rally on Yeouido Avenue was broadcast live, but for this 2nd strike, given the reimplementation of Level 2 social distancing due to the COVID-19 resurgence, large-scale outdoor rallies or gatherings will be refrained from and the event will be broadcast online." The KMA aims to lead a successful struggle through the general strike to abolish the government's four major medical policies (increasing medical school quotas, establishing public medical schools, coverage of herbal medicine, and telemedicine).

On the first day of the strike, the 26th, the program will begin at 10:30 a.m. with greetings and an interview by KMA President Choi Dae-jip, followed by interviews with Lee Cheol-ho, Chair of the Delegates' Council; Kim Dong-seok, President of the Korean Association of Private Practitioners; Park Ji-hyun, President of the Korean Intern Resident Association; and Cho Seung-hyun, President of the Korean Medical School Graduate Student Association. Additionally, commentary on current issues will be provided by Pyo Jin-in, Director of the Department of Psychiatry, Professor Seo Min of Dankook University College of Medicine, and Park Hyun-mi, President of the Korean Medical Association in the UK.

On the 27th, starting at 11 a.m., the presidents of the 16 metropolitan and provincial medical associations, including Park Hong-jun, President of the Seoul Medical Association, will appear sequentially to share regional issues and propose directions for Korean healthcare under the theme "What We Hope from the Government." On the 28th, following an online academic conference themed "Understanding the Four Major Evil Medical Policies," a press conference by the Special Committee to Stop the Four Major Evil Medical Policies of the medical community will be held at 6 p.m. to report on the progress of the struggle and declare the determination to continue the fight.

KMA spokesperson Kim Dae-ha said, "By simultaneously screening photos of strike support sent by individual members and videos of small-scale regional meetings, we expect to consolidate momentum and form a direct consensus through the participation of doctors nationwide."

◆ 2nd general strike, concerns over medical service gaps as all doctors nationwide participate = The 2nd doctors' general strike involves participation from all doctors nationwide, from university hospital residents to clinical fellows and private practitioners, raising concerns about disruptions to the medical system. During the 1st strike on the 14th, large hospitals such as university hospitals operated without major disruptions, but in the 2nd strike, not only residents (interns and residents) but also clinical fellows (clinical instructors and fellows), who are core hospital personnel, have decided to join the indefinite strike, potentially causing serious medical service gaps. There are growing concerns that if the doctors' 2nd general strike proceeds amid the COVID-19 resurgence emergency, the damage will be directly passed on to patients.

Shin Hyun-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and a doctor, said, "With nationwide COVID-19 spread saturating hospital beds, the doctors' strike prevents hospitals from actively responding to infectious diseases," adding, "The medical community should consider whether the strike is justified when patients' lives are threatened due to limited medical resources." A representative from a tertiary general hospital expressed regret, saying, "It is unfortunate that the medical community, which was negotiating with the government, ultimately failed to reach an agreement and decided to proceed with the strike," and voiced concern that "the departure of personnel such as residents and clinical fellows is causing disruptions to patients' surgery schedules."

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