Seoul National University Hospital to Reduce Outpatient Internal Medicine Services Starting Late This Month

On the 21st, a resident doctor is holding a solo protest in front of the main building of Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Seoul National University Hospital has decided to reduce outpatient internal medicine consultations starting at the end of this month. This is to focus on treating emergency and critically ill patients as young doctors, including interns and residents, have begun collective action, increasing the workload.

Seoul National University Hospital reportedly made this decision during a department head meeting on the 28th. It appears to be based on the judgment that the work gap will be prolonged due to the government's tough response amid the collective action by residents and fellows. Internal medicine professors are currently responsible for outpatient consultations, inpatients in the internal medicine ward, emergency patients, and intensive care patients.

Additionally, they are in charge of managing COVID-19 patients and night shifts. With a large number of young doctors absent, the workload on professors working on the front lines has significantly increased. Internal medicine deals with many severe patients as well as a considerable number of infectious disease and chronic disease patients.

The hospital stated that the adjustment is intended to allow professors to focus on emergency and critically ill patients as their workload increases. In the internal medicine department, general care such as prescription refills for chronic disease patients has largely been handled by fellows and residents, but with them stepping away from their duties, the hospital explained that reducing consultations is inevitable. However, the hospital emphasized that this adjustment does not constitute a work stoppage or strike.

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