Health and Medical Workers' Union and Patient Groups Urge Normalization of Medical Services, Emphasizing "Healthcare Sites Are Livelihood Sites"

The Health and Medical Workers' Union and patient organizations have demanded a halt to the resignation crisis among resident doctors and medical school professors, urging the normalization of medical services.

The National Health and Medical Industry Labor Union (Health and Medical Workers' Union) and the Korea Severe Disease Alliance held a joint press conference in front of the National Assembly at 10:30 a.m. on the 22nd, appealing for the damages suffered by patients and training hospital workers due to doctors' refusal to provide medical services, and called on medical organizations, as well as the government and the National Assembly, to promptly restore normal medical care.

On this day, Choi Hee-seon, chairperson of the Health and Medical Workers' Union, raised her voice saying, "The government must not give in to medical organizations and abandon medical reform," and "The ruling and opposition parties and the National Assembly must actively take a bipartisan stance to resolve the medical crisis."

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Additionally, Chairperson Choi expressed disappointment and anger toward the medical organizations for rejecting the government's decision to allow national university presidents to autonomously reduce next year's medical school enrollment from 2,000 students by 50-100% per university. She stated, "Despite the government presenting a flexible alternative, the medical organizations only talk about returning to square one," and warned, "We will consider ways to claim damages from patients and workers who suffer amid the strong confrontations between doctors and the government."

Lee Eun-young, head of the Kyung Hee Medical Center branch, lamented the reality faced by training hospital workers who are driven into ward closures, wage arrears, and job insecurity due to the financial difficulties of training hospitals. She insisted, "The government must take responsibility and prepare substantial support for medical institutions and workers who protect the lives of essential, severe, and emergency patients."

Furthermore, she emphasized, "A mid- to long-term plan is necessary to address the collective refusal of medical services by doctors," and stressed, "The government and medical groups should establish a consultative body involving patients, citizens, experts, and workers?the biggest victims of this crisis?instead of making secret agreements."

Baek Min-hwan, representative of the Korea Multiple Myeloma Patients Association, also argued, "It is a privileged mindset for medical organizations and the government to engage in one-on-one talks while refusing to participate in social dialogue to discuss medical reform measures," and urged, "Medical organizations must participate in social dialogue as members of Korean society so that discussions on medical reform to save lives can proceed with the absolute support and sympathy of the public and social consensus can be reached."

Finally, Park Min-sook, vice chairperson of the Health and Medical Workers' Union, called on the government and the National Assembly, saying, "The medical field where patients are dying is the most urgent livelihood issue," and demanded ▲ dialogue for normalization of medical services and medical reform ▲ resolution of the medical school enrollment issue ▲ presentation of a roadmap toward social consensus ▲ meetings with medical organizations.

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