Doctors and Nursing Assistants Warn of "Total Strike"... Heightened Alert for Possible Medical Crisis

As doctors and nursing assistants protest the passage of the Nursing Act bill and the Medical Service Act amendment (Doctor License Revocation Act) in the National Assembly plenary session by announcing a general strike, concerns are rising that confusion may occur in medical sites.

Representatives from 13 health and welfare medical coalitions, including the Korean Medical Association, shouted related slogans at the resolution rally for the 4 million health and welfare medical coalition general strike to block the Nursing Act and License Revocation Act, held near Seoul City Hall on the afternoon of the 16th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the medical community on the 30th, the Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity (Medical Solidarity), which includes 13 health and medical organizations such as doctors and nursing assistant groups, plans to hold a general strike resolution rally along with a partial strike around the 4th of next month.

A representative of the Korean Medical Association Emergency Committee stated, "The schedule for the partial strike by region, the schedule, target, and method of the general strike will be announced at a press conference on the 2nd of next month."

The Korean Association of Nursing Assistants (Kangmuhoe) is planning a leave strike on the 3rd, so the schedule may start a day earlier.

The Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity includes the Korean Medical Association (KMA), Kangmuhoe, the Korean Dental Association, the Korean Hospital Association, the Korean Association of Clinical Pathologists, the Korean Radiological Technologists Association, the Korean Emergency Medical Technicians Association, and the Korean Health Information Management Association. It also includes the Korea Central Association of Senior Welfare, the Korea Association of Long-Term Care Institutions for the Elderly, the Korea Central Association of Caregivers, the Korea Home Welfare Association for the Elderly, and the Korea Association of Home Long-Term Care Institutions.

The Medical Solidarity has mentioned plans for a general strike several times. On the 27th, when the Nursing Act and others passed the National Assembly, they condemned the forced passage of the bill, stating, "We will promptly finalize and announce the appropriate timing for the general strike."

Member organizations are holding meetings separately this weekend to discuss support or opposition to the general strike and the timing of the strike.

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