Patient groups call for legislation to make up for medical void resulting from trainee doctors’ mass resignation

Patient organizations have called for the National Assembly to legislate a law to resolve the government-doctor conflict sparked by the Yoon administration’s unilateral push to increase the medical school enrollment quota.

On Wednesday, the Korea Alliance of Patient Organizations issued a statement, demanding that the National Assembly expedite the passage of the Special Act on Compensation for Damages Caused by the Medical Disaster, the Healthcare Manpower Support Act and Amendment to the Basic Healthcare Act, and the Patient Basic Act while proposing a bill for the Prevention of Essential Medical Gaps Act.

“The collective resignation of trainee doctors has led to an unprecedentedly long medical gap over the past year, forcing patients to have their hospitalizations, tests, surgeries, and anticancer treatments postponed or canceled, resulting in worsening illnesses and even death,” the alliance said.

“Medical institutions have reportedly rehired six out of 10 resigning trainee doctors,” the alliance noted. “On the other hand, tertiary general hospitals that have lost junior doctors have been unable to find their replacements, resulting in frequent postponements of tests, treatments, and surgeries.,” it said. “We may have to watch helplessly as patients who could have been saved die for a long time to come.”

“The National Assembly should promptly pass the Essential Medical Care Gap Prevention Act to ensure that essential medical care directly related to life, such as emergency rooms and intensive care centers, can function normally in the event of a collective action by medical staff,” the group said.

It also noted that the government should establish an objective and fair supply and demand system through prompt legislation to resolve the conflict.

The group also called for the Medical Disaster Damage Compensation Act and the Patient Basic Act to create a patient-centered healthcare environment and compensate patients for the damage caused by the collective resignation of trainee doctors and the collective leave of medical students.