2024-03-26 01:40:57
The Emergency Response Committee of the Seoul National University College of Medicine Faculty Council announced, “If the government does not come up with a reasonable solution, we have decided to submit all resignations starting on the 18th.”
On the 11th, the Emergency Committee of the Seoul National University Medical School Faculty Association held an emergency general meeting at Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, and Boramae Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul and made this decision. The general meeting was attended by 430 out of 1,475 professors and was held by connecting each of the three hospitals online.
On this day, the emergency committee also released the results of a survey conducted on 1,146 of 1,475 professors (response rate 78%). First of all, 87% of respondents agreed that ‘if the current situation continues for a long period of time, proactive action by professors is needed at a certain point to prevent a worst-case scenario that will only leave great scars on both the public and the medical community.’
When asked what would be a good compromise between the government and the medical community for the benefit of the people, 66% of respondents responded, ‘Declaration of a complete review and then re-discussing the essential medical policy package, including increasing the number of medical schools, based on objective and scientific evidence,’ and 28% responded, ‘Appropriate measures.’ 4% chose ‘to agree to increase the number of medical schools’, while 4% chose to ‘oppose the agreement under any circumstances.’
99% of respondents responded that ‘the decision to increase the number of personnel by 2,000 has no scientific basis’ and 95% responded that ‘discussions are possible if the size of the increase is decided based on scientific, rational, and objective evidence.’ 95% predicted that realistically, if the number of students increased by 2,000, the quality of education would decrease and the public would suffer as a result.
In particular, 60% of respondents said, ‘In a situation where the government has not decided to increase the number of students by 2,000, all professors do not have to do their best to help students and residents return,’ and 40% of respondents said, ‘We should do our best to help students and residents return.’
Emergency committee chairman Bang Jae-seung (professor of neurology at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital) met with reporters after the emergency general meeting and confessed, “The gradual reduction of medical treatment is inevitable due to the limitations of the medical staff due to the prolongation of the current medical situation and as a desperate measure for continuity of medical treatment in the future.”
Emergency committee chairman Bang said, “If the government does not come up with a sincere and reasonable plan to resolve the situation, Seoul National University professors agreed to submit their resignations starting on the 18th.” He added, “Submission of resignations is individual, but we all agreed to submit them on the 18th.” He explained.
He continued, “We did not talk about how much outpatient treatment would be specifically reduced. It is left to the discretion. We have no choice but to leave it to the discretion or reduce outpatient treatment,” but added, “The medical staff decided to do their best to treat emergency and critical patients no matter what.” He said.
Prior to Seoul National University School of Medicine, the Emergency Committee of the Faculty Council of Ulsan University Medical School (Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan Hospital, Gangneung Asan Medical Center) also agreed on the 7th that all faculty members would submit their resignations. It will be submitted voluntarily, but the submission plan and schedule will be announced later.
Regarding this, Emergency Committee Chairman Bang said, “On the 9th, I met with emergency committee teachers from the Big 4 hospitals (excluding Seoul National University Hospital, Samsung Seoul, Seoul St. Mary’s, Seoul Asan, and Severance). There, it was not specifically decided to submit a resignation letter, but future actions were decided. “We agreed to stand in solidarity together,” he added.
In addition, the emergency committee announced, “We plan to hold a meeting for national solidarity with health and medical organizations, civic groups, political circles, and each medical school emergency committee at 2 p.m. on the 13th at the National Assembly Hall to discuss a reasonable solution.”
These and other medical school professors are acting urgently this week. Until now, some professors have individually expressed their intention to resign, but it appears that they will gradually come together and respond jointly.
The Sungkyunkwan University Medical School Faculty Council will also meet at 6 p.m. on the 12th. However, through today’s meeting, it is planned to decide whether to discuss future actions at the emergency committee. Medical school professors from across the country, including Ajou University, Wonkwang University, Yeungnam University, and Chungbuk National University, have formed an emergency committee and are discussing termination of concurrent positions and resignation.
The National Association of Medical School Professors, a group of professor council presidents from 33 medical schools across the country, which held its first emergency general meeting on the 9th, will also meet again on the 14th. Kim Chang-soo, president of the Korean Medical Association, said, “If students are forced to repeat grades, take leave of absence, or residents are punished, there is no reason for professors to be in schools or hospitals.”
Reporter Kim Jeong-hyeon Photo News 1
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2024-03-26 01:40:57