Concerns Over Collective Action in Medical Sector... Government Orders 'Ban on Accepting Collective Resignation Letters'

As medical associations oppose the expansion of medical school quotas and show signs of collective action, the government has responded by issuing orders to prohibit the acceptance of collective resignation letters.

The "Central Accident Response Headquarters for the Doctors' Collective Action" held a meeting at 1:30 PM on the 7th at Seoul City Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul, discussing the "Response Measures to Doctors' Collective Action." [Image source=Yonhap News]

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The 'Central Response Headquarters for Doctors' Collective Action' held a meeting at 1:30 p.m. on the 7th at Seoul City Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul, chaired by Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare and head of the headquarters, to discuss the 'Response Plan to Doctors' Collective Action.' The meeting included four related ministries?Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of National Defense, and National Police Agency?as well as 17 metropolitan and provincial governments.

First, a rapid inter-ministerial response system will be proactively established to respond to illegal collective actions, and joint measures will be taken. The Ministry of Health and Welfare ordered training hospitals to prohibit the acceptance of collective resignation letters based on Article 59 of the Medical Service Act and Article 15 of the Specialist Training Regulations, as some residents were considering submitting collective resignation letters to nullify the work commencement orders in advance. During the doctors' collective action in 2020, the Ministry of Justice also stated that "even if collective resignation letters are submitted as part of collective action, lawful work commencement orders can be enforced, and refusal without just cause may result in punishment."

The National Police Agency has taken a firm stance to strictly respond to the medical community's collective actions that cause confusion and inconvenience to the public's medical use, such as violations of work commencement orders. They will promptly investigate illegal acts such as violations of work commencement orders by individual hospitals, clinics, and residents nationwide, issue summonses, and conduct direct investigations by metropolitan and provincial police agencies into organizations and individuals leading the collective action. If there is non-compliance with summonses, arrest warrants will be obtained for swift tracking and apprehension.

In particular, inducement acts of collective action by medical associations will be strictly investigated and punished under the Medical Service Act for offenses such as instigation and aiding and abetting violations of work commencement orders.

Local governments will establish a reporting system for medical treatment status in preparation for collective medical institution closures. In the event of collective action, on-site investigations and enforcement of work commencement orders will be promptly carried out, and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety will actively support these efforts to ensure that the public does not experience inconvenience in accessing medical services.

Additionally, to prevent confusion and inconvenience in public medical use, the Central Response Headquarters and 17 local governments will promptly operate 'Emergency Medical Response Situation Rooms' and establish emergency medical plans for each local government. A system will also be established to enable rapid sharing of treatment status between central and local governments.

Related ministries, including the Ministry of National Defense, will closely monitor the situation of affiliated hospitals within their departments and actively respond to prevent any gaps in medical treatment.

Minister Cho said, "To prevent confusion caused by doctors' collective action, close cooperation between related ministries and local governments is most important," adding, "The inter-ministerial, central, and local governments will cooperate to take all necessary measures to protect the lives and health of the people."

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