http://base21.jinbo.net               
Mar. 30  2024
Write Article 
About Us 
 
Inter-Solidarity 
Christian's Photo Column 

Doctors Strike Goes Ahead

The Korea Medical Association (KMA) officially announced Monday that it will go ahead with a collective strike by all doctors starting from Tuesday, in opposition to the government measures separating outpatient pharmacies from hospitals.

Source  :  Chosun Ilbo

The Korea Medical Association (KMA) officially announced Monday that it will go ahead with a collective strike by all doctors starting from Tuesday, in opposition to the government measures separating outpatient pharmacies from hospitals. The government is taking a hard line and said that doctors will bear all legal responsibility for their actions. Worried about the situation, patients crowded into hospital to be diagnosed or to receive more medicine prior to the strike, all day Monday.

The KMA stated that in its Monday referendum to decide on the walkout, 98.9% of its 33,000 members voted in favor and so will strike as planned, closing down some 90% of city hospitals (18,000), and paralyzing the functions of all general hospitals except for emergency and delivery rooms. KMA head Kim Jae-jung said in a press conference that the measures proposed by the government do not meet the organization's demands to hold a test run first before implementing the separation. He urged that the president address this issue for re-examination.

Minister Cha Hung-bong of the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) said that the collective walkout by the doctors goes against the basic duty and Hipocratic oath of doctors. He added that those who violate the law will be subject to legal punishment as well as having their licenses cancelled. All students who refuse to serve will have their military exemption status revoked and be immediately sent to perform military service.

In order to minimize the time without medical services, the government has set up contingency medical offices at the branch offices of the ministry in 16 cities nationwide. The contingency offices will operate 24 hours a day starting from Tuesday.

Some twenty organizations including the Citizen's Coalition for Economic Justice and the Hhealth Association have also set up offices to deal with problems. The members of the participating organizations gathered at the YMCA auditorium at Chonggro-2ga on Monday morning and held a meeting to urge medical reform and the cancellation of the walkout. The coalitions warned that if the doctors go ahead with the walkout, the public will launch a nationwide movement to protect public health rights.
2000 / -0 / 6-
김정우   nacep@jinbo.net


 
Labor | Science & ICT | Society | Human Rights
Copylefted by base21.jinbo.net