Senior doctors at major tertiary hospitals in Seoul postpone strike amid government policy dispute

In a significant shift echoing across Seoul's leading hospitals, university hospital professors have chosen to postpone their plans for an indefinite leave of absence, originally intended as a protest against the government’s healthcare and medical education policies. 

Instead, they have opted to pursue ongoing dialogue with policymakers.

Professors at Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, comprising faculty from Samsung Medical Center (SMC), Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, and Samsung Changwon Hospital, said after a general meeting on Tuesday that they would temporarily postpone the start of an indefinite leave of absence after “careful consideration of the well-being of patients and the public.” 

Following Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) 's lead, the Korea Medical Association (KMA) has similarly suspended its indefinite leave, while professors at SMC and The Catholic University of Korea Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, two of the so-called Big 5 hospitals, have also decided to step back.

The Seoul St. Mary's Hospital's decision was based on a survey conducted from last Friday to this Monday, revealing that over 70 percent of the surveyed professors advocated shifting from taking a leave of absence to adopting a form of “reduced practice” approach, prioritizing critical cases and minimizing treatment of minor cases to alleviate patient inconvenience and concerns. 

"Based on the survey results, we decided to postpone the start of the indefinite leave following extensive deliberation," Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital’s emergency response committee said. 

However, the committee also acknowledged the possibility of indefinite leaves in the future. "Should circumstances change in the future, such as unwarranted disciplinary actions against doctors, students, and professors of medical schools, and a failure to rectify erroneous medical school admissions policies and healthcare policies, we will have no choice but to push for an indefinite leave of absence.”

The committee added that 82 percent of respondents expressed readiness to engage in vigorous protests in the future.

Central to their stance are the seven demands outlined by the KMA, encompassing issues ranging from the cancellation of medical school expansion to the revision of controversial issues in the essential healthcare policy package. 

"The doctors have clearly stated their demands, and if the government fails to address these issues, it could irreparably harm the Korean healthcare system," said the committee, underscoring that meeting the seven demands is the "only viable solution."

Meanwhile, SNUH, the first among the Big 5 hospitals to initiate indefinite leave, and its two other SNU-affiliated hospitals have returned to practice, while the KMA's scheduled indefinite leave starting this Thursday has been canceled. The KMA plans to discuss future actions at a special committee on proper medical care this Saturday.

Despite the postponement, concerns persist among medical educators regarding the potential impact on students and patients alike. "Medical students have missed an entire semester, and even if they were to resume classes, it would be extremely challenging," the emergency management committee said. "We urge the government to halt actions that avoid undermining the foundation of medical education and seek alternatives that mitigate harm to students.”

Looking ahead, uncertainties loom over the medical landscape as professors at hospitals like Severance Hospital and Asan Medical Center deliberate their next steps amidst evolving governmental guidelines. 

Severance Hospital had initially scheduled an indefinite leave of absence this Thursday, and a spokesperson said that they had not received any updates and are uncertain about the committee's course of action if the government does not meet its demands.

A spokesperson from Asan Medical Center said that the hospital is not currently experiencing an organized mass furlough movement, originally slated to begin on July 4. 

As the debate intensifies, the overarching question remains whether these postponements will lead to enduring reforms or merely offer temporary respite in the ongoing struggle for healthcare integrity.