Jeonui Medical Association "Medical School Professors' Burnout... 52-Hour Workweek for Clinical Practice and Minimization of Outpatient Care"

"Professor Unable to Provide Stable Patient Care Due to Fatigue Accumulation"

Professors at medical schools nationwide have resolved to reduce their clinical hours to within 52 hours per week starting from the 25th of this month, and to minimize outpatient care beginning next month on the 1st. This decision comes amid concerns over accumulated fatigue among professors following the residents' strike, raising fears of on-duty deaths and making stable patient care impossible.

A medical school in Seoul on the 20th, when the results of the increased medical school admission quota distribution, which triggered conflicts between the medical community and the government, were announced. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The Emergency Response Committee of the National Council of Medical School Professors held an online press briefing at 4 p.m. on the 21st to announce this. Jo Yoon-jung, Chair of the Public Relations Committee of the Emergency Response Committee and Chair of the Faculty Council at Korea University College of Medicine, stated, "The remaining medical staff in hospitals are concerned about how to care for inpatients, critically ill patients, and severe cases," adding, "This resolution was made as a measure to protect patients."

She continued, "Starting from the 1st of next month, outpatient care will be minimized to ensure the safe treatment of emergency and critically ill patients," and explained, "We ask for understanding as this decision was made out of concern that the lives of those working under life-threatening conditions might be at risk."

She also appealed to the serious fatigue and stress experienced by the remaining medical staff. She said, "Currently, the remaining medical staff are on the verge of dying in the line of duty before even submitting their resignation letters," adding, "The remaining fellows and professors have endured severe mental and physical stress over the past five weeks, with some personnel taking on night shifts three times a week."

She added, "Regardless of the situation, it is the doctor's calling to treat patients who come in, so they cannot leave the field," and said, "We judged that reducing clinical hours is the only way to ensure the safe treatment of inpatients and critically ill patients under these circumstances."

She also expressed support for the professors' announcement to collectively resign on the 25th. Chair Jo said, "Although I cannot disclose details, the number of universities where professors have resolved to resign has surged," and added, "I understand that professors at almost all universities will voluntarily resign, and I support this."

Regarding the plan to increase medical school admissions by 2,000 students, she said, "The number of medical students and the number of practicing doctors in the respective regions are completely different concepts," and added, "It takes time to prepare facilities and equipment for training environments, and expanding the faculty is an even more difficult issue."

She also predicted that even after the situation is resolved, not many residents will return to training sites. She said, "Some expect that only about 10% of residents will return to training after everything is settled," and added, "We will strive to have at least 50% of residents return."

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