Medical Association Strike Vote Turnout Hits Record High of 55%... Fight on the 9th

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) vote on whether to participate in a collective strike this month showed the highest turnout ever. Centered on private practitioners, the KMA plans to leverage the momentum from the member vote to declare a nationwide medical sector struggle. The association of medical school professors has also agreed to align with the KMA, increasing the likelihood of a large-scale strike. However, there are forecasts that private practitioners may have a low participation rate in closing their clinics, as their turnout was in the single digits during the 2020 collective action.

From 5 p.m. on the 4th to midnight on the 8th of this month, the KMA conducted a vote among all members, with 78,000 out of 129,200 valid voters participating, resulting in a turnout rate of 54.8%.

In this vote, the KMA asked, "Do you support the KMA's strong struggle to stop the government's medical and educational manipulation?" and "Will you participate in the collective action, including the planned strike in June?" The same number of members responded to both questions.

According to the KMA, this vote had the highest participation among various votes and surveys the association has conducted so far. For comparison, 48,861 participated in the 2014 general strike vote against telemedicine, and 26,809 took part in the 2020 survey responding to the 'four major evils medical policies,' including medical school quota expansion.

Only the turnout rate was disclosed, but the ratio of approval and disapproval was not made public. However, given the KMA's firm stance on the struggle, it is speculated that the majority voted in favor.

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The National Emergency Committee of Medical School Professors (Jeon-ui-bi), composed of professors from 20 medical schools nationwide, has already declared it will follow the KMA's vote results. At a general meeting the previous evening, Jeon-ui-bi agreed to align with the KMA, the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences, and another professors' group, the National Association of Medical School Professors.

Professors at major university hospitals, including the 'Big 5' top-tier hospitals in Seoul, are also considering whether to participate in the strike, and other universities plan to discuss their future course of action independently. Earlier, the Emergency Committee of Seoul National University College of Medicine and Hospital professors announced on the 6th that if the resident doctors' issue is not resolved, all departments except essential ones such as emergency rooms and intensive care units will go on strike starting the 17th.

The KMA plans to hold a nationwide doctors' representatives meeting at 2 p.m. on the 9th, involving professors, employed doctors, and private practitioners, to declare a nationwide medical sector struggle. The KMA stated, "This will be the largest collective action in the history of medical sector struggles," and added, "This representatives meeting marks the beginning of the nationwide medical sector struggle, and depending on the government's response, we will carry out corresponding actions."

However, there is analysis that private practitioners are relatively less likely to participate in the strike. As self-employed individuals, private practitioners face significant losses when closing their clinics. During the 2020 push for medical school quota expansion, the participation rate of private practitioners in collective action was less than 10%.

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