Government Expresses Serious Concern Over "All Seoul National University Medical School Professors Resigning"

by Choi Taewon

Published 12 Mar.2024 08:46(KST)

Advance Notice of License Suspension for 5,556 People as of the 11th

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) expressed concern over the decision by all professors at Seoul National University College of Medicine to submit their resignations if the government does not come up with a reasonable solution.

On the 4th, the first working day after the deadline for residents to return set by the government, Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare, spoke at a video meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters regarding the doctors' collective action held at the Seoul Government Complex. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare (First Deputy Head of the CDSCH), stated this during his opening remarks at the CDSCH meeting held at the Government Seoul Office at 8:30 a.m. on the 12th. Minister Cho said, "The decision by all professors at Seoul National University College of Medicine to resign yesterday is a very serious concern as it threatens patients' lives and health," adding, "Professors should work together with the government to find wisdom so that the residents who refused to provide medical care return to the patients, and the public will find it difficult to accept another collective resignation that endangers patients' lives."

Earlier, the Emergency Response Committee of the Seoul National University College of Medicine Professors' Association announced that they would submit their resignations if the government does not come up with a reasonable solution regarding the collective resignation crisis of residents. After holding general meetings at Seoul National University Yeongeon Campus, Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, and Boramae Hospital the previous day, the committee stated, "If the government does not sincerely come up with a reasonable solution to resolve the situation, we have decided to submit our resignations starting from the 18th."

Additionally, a "Resident Protection and Reporting Center" to support the return of residents to the field will begin operation from today. Minister Cho said, "Residents who are not participating in the collective action or who wish to return to the field are worried about their names being disclosed and collective bullying," and he added, "We will carefully ensure that residents can return to the field without anxiety and stay by the patients' side."

He continued, "To allow regional emergency medical centers to focus on treating severe patients, a support project for classifying mild and non-emergency patients and guiding them to other medical institutions will also be implemented starting from the 15th."

Meanwhile, according to the CDSCH, the government sent pre-notification letters of license suspension to a total of 5,556 residents who had not returned to the field by the 11th.