Seoul National University Medical School Professors' Committee: "No Time Limits to Pressure Residents... Residents' Wishes Must Be Respected"

"Events That Occurred Due to Policy Implementation Ignoring Legislative Agreement"
"Need to Establish Transparent and Rational Policy Decision-Making Process"

Professors at Seoul National University College of Medicine urged the government to respect the intentions of residents, stating that they will not return to their positions.

Professor Kang Hee-kyung, Seoul National University College of Medicine - Seoul National University Hospital, Chairperson of the Emergency Response Committee.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Emergency Response Committee (ERC) of Seoul National University College of Medicine and Seoul National University Hospital held a press conference at 10:30 a.m. on the 15th at Seoul National University College of Medicine in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to make this announcement. Kang Hee-kyung, chairperson of the ERC, said, "The medical service gap occurred because the government unilaterally pushed forward policies such as the notification of medical school quotas, ignoring the 2020 medical-government agreement to not enforce such unilateral policies," adding, "It is truly regrettable because if the policies had been decided through transparent and rational consultations, this situation would not have happened."

She also stated that residents will not return despite various government measures. She said, "July 15th is the date when the Ministry of Health and Welfare demanded confirmation of whether affiliated residents would return or resign to finalize vacancies," and added, "We believe that such measures will not bring the residents back."

She explained, "The residents leaving the hospitals was a protest against the enforcement of unilateral and unreasonable policies, and since those policies have not changed, the residents have not returned," and urged, "If you truly want the residents to return, please first consider the reasons why they submitted their resignation letters."

She also criticized the policies of the Presidential Committee on Medical Reform (PCMR) as lacking practicality. Kang said, "Without continuous commitment to policy implementation and financial support, the policies proposed by the PCMR will also be difficult to realize," adding, "We are witnessing that it is even difficult to secure funding for emergency medical systems immediately."

She continued, "While it is desirable for tertiary general hospitals to focus on specialists and severe diseases, how will manpower be supplied and necessary funding secured when no specialists will be produced by 2025?" and asked, "Have plans been made to first obtain consent from the public with mild and moderate illnesses regarding this 'structural transformation' of tertiary general hospitals?"

Expressing support for the residents, she also urged respect for their intentions. She demanded to Health and Welfare Minister Cho Kyu-hong, "If you truly wish to resolve the medical service gap, instead of pressuring residents with deadlines, you must correct policies now and establish a transparent and rational policy decision-making process," and added, "The date of acceptance of resignation letters from residents who chose to resign must be decided respecting the residents' intentions."

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