More medical professors mull joining SNUH on picket line

More medical professors at "big five" teaching hospitals may stage a walkout following Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH)’s announcement of an indefinite strike starting June 17.

Empty beds at Asan Medical Center in southern Seoul on Tuesday [YONHAP]

More medical professors at the country's largest teaching hospitals may stage a walkout following Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH)’s announcement of an indefinite strike starting June 17.

An association of professors at the University of Ulsan held a meeting on Tuesday afternoon to discuss whether to go on strike. The University of Ulsan is affiliated with Asan Medical Center, one of the so-called Big Five hospitals, as well as Ulsan University Hospital and Gangnueng Asan Hospital.

A decision will be made on Wednesday.

Medical professors in Korea play a central role in training junior doctors and overseeing fellows at teaching hospitals. Not only are professors practicing physicians, but they are also often the foremost specialists in their fields.

Last week, SNUH professors announced they would indefinitely suspend medical services from June 17, except for emergency room patients and intensive care units, unless the government halts administrative procedures such as license suspensions for junior doctors.

The Korea Medical Association (KMA), the country’s largest doctors’ lobby group, also announced a single-day general strike on June 18 to protest the government’s decision to increase the medical school quota. Following the announcement, the government ordered community doctors to continue providing medical services and to report to local governments if they close their practices on that day.

On Tuesday, medical professors at Korea University announced they would participate in the KMA's walkout on June 18, after more than 90 percent agreed to the strike. This would affect medical services at hospitals under Korea University, including its Anam Hospital and Guro Hospital.

The planned strike follows the government's decision last month to increase medical school admissions by 1,500 spots next year despite fierce opposition from the medical community. It marked the first such increase in 27 years.

An association of professors at national medical schools released a statement earlier in the day asking the government to approve leaves of absence for medical students so they can resume their studies at an appropriate time.

The association also suggested readjusting the medical school quota after evaluating the education environment next year.

The association is comprised of professors from 10 national universities, including Seoul National University, Pusan National University and Kangwon National University. Kyungpook National University was excluded from the list of schools that released the statement on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the government and the KMA have reportedly begun engaging in closed-door talks regarding the matter.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]