<중대본> "Persuading Until the End of the Mass Strike... Strict Response to Illegal Activities"

"Will Do Our Best to Maintain Emergency Medical System"

The government stated that it will "continue to persuade until the last moment to prevent the collective medical strike scheduled for the 18th from materializing, and will respond strictly to illegal activities."

Lee Han-kyung, the 2nd Chief Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for the doctors' collective action and head of the Disaster Safety Management Headquarters at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, said this on the morning of the 13th at a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting held at the government complex in Sejong.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee said, "In medical settings, cases of delayed chemotherapy or canceled surgeries are emerging, and there are patients who are anxious about whether they can receive timely follow-up treatment after being diagnosed with cancer," adding, "The medical community's (strike) movement is causing great worry and anxiety among the public, especially patients."

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) has announced a collective strike and a general rally on the 18th. University hospitals, that is, medical school professors, have also expressed their intention to participate in the strike on that day, except for essential medical fields.

Lee emphasized, "The government will prioritize the lives and health of the people, firmly maintain the emergency medical system, and respond strictly to illegal activities," and added, "If any damage occurs, please actively contact the Damage Report Support Center, and the government and local governments will do their best to protect and support you."

He then appealed to the medical community to return to the patients' side. He said, "Many doctors who understand better than anyone how desperate the situations of patients who have missed the appropriate treatment timing are will protect the patients as 'doctors who save lives,'" and requested, "Above all, I ask that you prioritize the precious value of life in all decision-making."

He also urged residents to return and participate in discussions on medical reform. Lee said, "Medical reform is the government's promise to the people to ensure that quality medical services can be received timely anytime and anywhere," and conveyed, "I hope that the residents, who are the future leaders of Korea's medical field, will return to the patients' side and participate in such medical reform discussions."

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