"Mass Resignation, Clear Refusal of Medical Treatment"…Health and Medical Workers' Union Urges Prompt Restoration of Medical Services

As the collective refusal of medical residents to provide care continues to cause confusion in the medical field, the Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union (KHMU) has called for the prompt normalization of medical services.

On the 26th at 11 a.m., the KHMU held a press conference at the KHMU Life Hall in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, warning that the collective resignation of medical residents has led to some of their duties being shifted to other professions, increasing the risk of medical accidents.

As the number of residents who collectively resigned in opposition to the increase in medical school quotas exceeded 10,000, on the 26th, officials belonging to the Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union under the Federation of Korean Trade Unions held a press conference urging the normalization of medical services at the Health and Medical Workers' Union Life Hall in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

On this day, Choi Hee-seon, Chairperson of the KHMU, stated, "This is the first time the health care disaster crisis alert has been raised to the highest level, 'serious,'" and added, "Illegal medical practices are rampant, including shifting doctors' duties onto nurses, causing harm to patients."

She continued, "It is said that senior residents and medical school professors will also leave patients' sides to join the struggle during the contract period for full-time residents at university hospitals scheduled for early March," and criticized, "Submitting resignation letters on a set date and collectively leaving the medical field is not freedom of occupational choice but a clear collective refusal to provide medical care."

Regarding the seven demands made by medical residents to the government on the 20th, the KHMU expressed agreement with only some of them. Previously, the Korean Intern Resident Association demanded △ the cancellation of medical school enrollment increases △ the establishment of a scientific forecasting body for the number of doctors △ an increase in specialist personnel △ measures to address doctors' judicial risks △ improvement of resident education environments △ abolition of work commencement orders △ withdrawal of unfair orders and apologies.

In response, Vice Chairperson Park Min-sook pointed out, "The increase of 2,000 medical school students is the minimum scale to expand the doctor workforce by 10,000 by 2035," and criticized, "It is contradictory for medical organizations advocating for the survival of essential and regional medical care to oppose the increase in medical school enrollment aimed at supporting this."

She also emphasized, "The government's work commencement order did not infringe on doctors' fundamental rights but fulfilled the state's responsibility to protect the lives of its citizens," and urged, "Doctors should stop refusing to provide care, return to work, and begin discussions to save essential medical services."

Finally, the union proposed the following actions to the public for the prompt normalization of medical services: △ a campaign to refrain from using large hospitals for mild and non-emergency patients △ the 'Thanks to You' campaign to encourage and support medical staff protecting the medical field △ public actions urging dialogue between medical organizations and the government.

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