Government: "If residents return by the 29th, no responsibility will be held"

As residents opposing the increase in medical school quotas leave hospitals, causing a medical vacuum, the government has set June 29 as the final deadline for residents who collectively submitted resignation letters and stopped working to return.

Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, stated at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting on the 26th regarding the doctors' collective action, "The government is fully aware of the seriousness of the current situation and makes a final appeal," adding, "If you return to the hospitals you left by the 29th, we will not hold you accountable for past responsibilities."

On the 26th, as inconveniences due to nationwide medical gaps caused by collective actions of residents increased, Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, attended the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and announced a return deadline of the 29th, stating that no responsibility would be held if they return by then. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

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Minister Lee said, "The residents' collective action has intensified confusion in medical sites, and threats to patients' lives and health are becoming a reality," adding, "Dangerous situations are occurring in emergency medical settings." He emphasized to the residents, "Please remember that your voices are louder and more effective when you are by the patients' side."

He particularly noted, "As part of measures to maintain hospitals' patient care functions, a pilot project for medical support personnel will begin," and added, "Through this, it is expected that the scope of duties performed by nurses on site can be more clearly defined."

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Reflecting demands to clearly define nurses' scope of work, the government also promised to establish a protection system for nurses. This measure considers that after residents began collective action, nurses such as physician assistant (PA) nurses have been forcibly taking on residents' duties in medical settings.

Minister Lee urged, "These measures have limitations in filling the residents' gaps," and said, "The hospitals you left are filled with anxiety and concern. I hope you return to the sites you have protected with sweat and tears day and night and engage in dialogue for a better medical environment."

He stated, "Public support is the greatest driving force in promoting the '4 Major Essential Medical Packages,' including the expansion of medical personnel," and added, "We will devote ourselves to minimizing confusion in medical sites while prioritizing the lives and health of the people." He further explained, "The 4 Major Essential Medical Packages are intended to create better medical environments and conditions for you and to revive regional and essential medical care in crisis."

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