The Association of Private Practitioners "Supports Resident Strike... Urges Dismissal of Ministry of Health Officials"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] Amid the ongoing indefinite strike by medical residents, the Korean Association of Private Practitioners has called for the dismissal of Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo and related officials.

On the 31st, the Korean Association of Private Practitioners stated in a press release, "An unprecedented situation has arisen with medical school students refusing classes, rejecting the national medical licensing exam, participating in solidarity strikes, and medical residents and fellows engaging in an indefinite strike," adding, "The fundamental cause of this crisis is the government's unilateral implementation of the 'Four Evils' medical policies without consulting the medical community." They continued, "Despite the serious nature of the situation being caused by themselves, the government persists with a dogmatic and arrogant attitude, further worsening the crisis."

The association said, "Doctors have shed voluntary and devoted sweat and tears to treat patients with the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19)," and added, "Because caring for patients suffering from infectious diseases and protecting the lives of the people safely were priorities, they have quietly maintained their presence in clinical settings."

The association stated, "Regarding the expansion of medical school quotas, Minister Park gave an incomprehensible answer about with whom in the medical community, excluding the Korean Medical Association (KMA), he reached an agreement," and "the push for public medical schools has also been revealed as a hasty plan focused solely on increasing the number of doctors rather than cultivating quality physicians."

Regarding the Ministry of Health and Welfare's filing of complaints against 10 medical residents who did not comply with the administrative order on the 28th, the association opposed, calling it "an abuse of authority by forcibly applying Article 59 of the Medical Service Act," and "a measure that denies the constitution guaranteeing the right to labor, which all citizens of the Republic of Korea, including doctors, possess."

The association urged, "The government must fully disclose the process of pushing forward the expansion of medical school quotas and the establishment of public medical schools hastily and secretly without a single public hearing with the medical community and the public," and "Minister Park and related officials who have brought the situation to this state must withdraw the complaints against the medical residents and apologize to the public." They added, "We respect and support the Korean Intern and Resident Association's decision to continue their desperate strike despite being reported to the police and threatened with the deprivation of their medical careers, and we will stand with them until the end."

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