[Report] One Week After Collective Resignation of Residents... Critical Patients Face 'Infinite Waiting' for Treatment

At around 10 a.m. on the 26th, Kim, a guardian in his 40s, sighed as he supported his cancer patient father in front of Severance Hospital in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Kim visits Severance Hospital twice a week for his father's chemotherapy treatment.

Previously, it took about 2 hours on average to receive treatment, but over the past week, the waiting time has become unpredictably long. Kim said, "On the first day the residents submitted their resignation letters, no matter how long we waited, our turn never came, so we visited the hospital the next day. Now, we expect it to take at least 1 night and 2 days and come prepared, but as the waiting time gets longer, my father has become very exhausted," he lamented.

On the 26th, the outpatient registration desk at Severance Hospital in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, is quiet.
[Photo by Lee Ji-eun]

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As the collective resignation of residents reaches its one-week mark, the waiting time for chemotherapy patients has more than doubled, deepening the medical vacuum especially for severe patients. Mild outpatient cases are receiving treatment as scheduled, but if the situation prolongs, there are concerns that treatment disruptions will expand throughout the medical community.

On this day at Severance Hospital, treatment schedules were delayed mainly for severe patients. Kang (58), who visited the hospital for his mother's chemotherapy, said, "The waiting time has doubled compared to usual. Even healthy people find this difficult, so cancer patients suffer even more," as he looked at his mother leaning weakly on a bench with a sympathetic gaze.

Outpatient examinations proceeded without significant disruption. Most visitors were screening patients unaffected by the residents' collective action. Jang (53), who came for a cardiac examination, said, "I waited about 2 hours before receiving treatment, which is about the usual wait time. I was surprised by the news that nearly 700 residents submitted resignation letters, but I didn't feel much inconvenience in the treatment," he said.

However, the number of patients waiting in front of the reception desk was nearly half compared to last week. This is analyzed as a result of a significant decrease in first-time outpatient visits. Jang said, "A month ago, the waiting chairs were full of people. Seeing only a dozen or so sitting at 10 a.m. is a very rare sight," he reported.

On the 26th, patients gathered in front of the reception desk at Seoul National University Hospital.
[Photo by Shim Seong-ah]

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The situation was similar at Seoul National University Hospital. For some inpatients, discharge schedules were moved up by about a week due to staff shortages, but outpatient examinations proceeded as planned. Nam (68), who visited Seoul National University Hospital for an MRI scan, said, "I had an appointment on the 23rd, and there was no delay or rescheduling," and added, "While doctors may have grievances, I think collective resignation goes against their duty when looking at patients in urgent need," he emphasized.

Patients unanimously expressed fear over concerns that this situation might prolong. Yang (67), who came for a check-up at Severance Hospital with his wife, said, "Although the government and doctors are in conflict, there is no sincere concern for the health of the people," and worried, "If the days doctors are absent from hospitals lengthen, even simple check-ups will become difficult to receive properly."

As residents continue to leave hospitals, the damage to patients is becoming visible, especially in regions with relatively weak medical infrastructure. In Daejeon, 23 cases of delayed ambulance transport were recorded from the 20th to the morning of the 26th, and in Busan, 42 such cases were reported.

With no sign of resolution, voices are emerging urging patients with mild conditions to refrain from using tertiary hospitals. The National Health and Medical Industry Labor Union held a press conference on the 26th, calling for the prompt normalization of medical services and suggesting that non-emergency patients avoid using large hospitals.

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