SNU medical school professors to resign en masse over gov't treatment of doctors

Every professor from Seoul National University’s (SNU) medical school will resign from their posts amid an ongoing standoff between the government and doctors.

Professors of the emergency steering committee of professorial board of Seoul National University’s medical college attend an emergency general assembly at Seoul National University Hospital on Monday. [NEWS1]

Every professor from Seoul National University’s (SNU) medical school will resign from their posts amid an ongoing standoff between the government and doctors.

An emergency steering committee of the professorial board of SNU’s medical college decided to “voluntarily file resignations on March 18 unless the government takes proactive and reasonable measures that can alleviate the tension between the medical sector and the authorities,” after its general assembly on Monday.

Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong on Tuesday expressed a “serious concern over the mass resignation which risks patients’ lives and health” during a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting.

Cho asked med school professors to "stand by their patients and share wisdom to bring back [striking] junior trainee doctors.”

“The government will thoroughly prepare to maintain emergency medical services while putting its best efforts for dialogue and persuasion,” the minister said.

“The authorities will listen attentively to professors' voices and review their opinions proactively.”

Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong presides over a meeting at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters in Seoul on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

Cho added that prior notices of medical license suspension had been sent to a total of 5,556 striking junior doctors as of Monday. He said there is “no change in the governmental principle of holding striking doctors accountable for their misconduct.”

“With mass walkout, the medical chaos is growing, and the current situation proves the need for medical reform for normalization of medical services.”

He said the hotline service for junior doctors will start its service on Tuesday, noting the ministry will attempt to make junior doctors return to hospitals without any anxiety or concerns.

Cho promised to invest all available resources to minimize difficulties shouldered by medical professionals attending to their duties. He said the ministry will roll out a support program to help classify patients so regional emergency medical centers could focus on treating critically ill patients.

“To restructure hospitals into a board-certified doctor-oriented system, the law and provisions will be amended to let hospitals hire sufficient numbers of specialized doctors based on improved rewards and benefits [from the government],” Cho said regarding the medical reforms.

“Such changes will lower the workload burden on junior trainee doctors and foster an environment where they can concentrate on training, eventually providing quality medical services to people.”

BY LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]