Health and Medical Workers' Union Urges Medical School Professors to Withdraw Collective Resignation and Stay by Patients' Side

The National Health and Medical Industry Labor Union (Health and Medical Union) demanded on the 25th the withdrawal of the collective action plan by medical school professors.

Medical staff are entering the treatment area at a university hospital in Seoul. Photo by Heo Younghan younghan@

On the same day, the Health and Medical Union issued a statement expressing concern that "if the collective resignation submission by medical school professors and the administrative suspension of licenses for residents become imminent, the intense standoff between the government and doctors over medical school expansion will escalate into the worst medical crisis."

They continued, "Training hospitals are experiencing paralysis of medical functions, PA nurses are taking on medical tasks that doctors should perform, and workers are being threatened with unpaid leave, forced annual leave, and wage arrears," criticizing the situation.

The union urged the following measures for the prompt normalization of medical services: ▲ withdrawal of the collective action plan by medical school professors ▲ return of residents to medical sites and participation in social dialogue ▲ prohibition of forced leave usage and wage arrears ▲ suspension of government pressure measures and establishment of dialogue opportunities ▲ establishment of an emergency medical system and preparation of practical support and compensation plans ▲ adoption of pledges to find solutions to revive essential medical care, regional medical care, and public medical care.

The union stated, "If prompt normalization of medical services is not achieved, we will launch practical struggles against doctors and the government."

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