People wait for medical treatment at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Nov. 6, as Seoul National University Hospital and Seoul Asan Medical Center, two of the top general hospitals, are pushing for unpaid leave for nurses, researchers and clerical staff as the number of patients plummets following the mass resignation of doctors. Moon Jae-won

The confrontation between medical and political circles over the increase of medical school admissions enters its fourth week, with no sign of resolution. Trainee doctors' protests have expanded to include full-time doctors and medical professors, the emergency medical care system has reached a limit, and the government is only preparing for a long battle. Professors and doctors from eight major hospitals in Seoul, who have been doing their duty at hospitals, issued a joint statement on March 10, warning that "If this continues, the country’s medical care system will soon collapse" Now, the medical crisis is at a critical juncture.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced on the same day that it would send 20 military doctors and 138 public health doctors to 20 hospitals over the next four weeks, saying, “We will make every effort to operate the emergency medical care system well.” However, no one can rest assured of such a clumsy countermeasure. The number of military and public health doctors is not enough to replace doctors who left their workplaces. And as we have seen during the coronavirus pandemic, simply adding more staff does not mean less work in hospitals where chemistry between staff members is crucial. There is also a risk that the local healthcare system with fewer public health doctors can be exposed to danger. Under these circumstances, it is unbelievable that striking doctors mocked their fellow doctors who are doing their best at hospitals, calling them "true doctors" and disclosing their personal information.

A series of the government’s measures to deal with the medical crisis are also worrisome. The presidential office is pushing for the institutionalization of employing physician assistant (PA) nurses, which was launched the same day as a pilot project, and has also opened up the possibility of a re-discussion on the nursing law that President Yoon Suk-yeol vetoed last year. The president reversed his stance less than a year after vetoing the law, as the cooperation of nurses who are filling the positions that are left vacant by trainee doctors became urgent. It is essential to formalize the position of PA nurses at hospitals, who have already been practically sharing duties with doctors, and expand the scope of their work to meet the changing medical needs. However, it is not the time to use the repromotion of the nursing law as a quick fix to resolve the medical crisis or a trump card to pressure doctors. Nurses are still distrustful of the government’s policy, and it can even reignite occupational conflicts between nursing assistants and paramedics in the midst of the medical crisis. Any change in medical policy must be preceded by a responsible stance and apology from the government.

Medical and political circles are not standing in a ring of their own. The current medical crisis will be an evaluation of whether the government is good at risk management. The government should not give in to the doctors' unreasonable demands, but it is also not a solution to push the government’s policies only with force while locking the door to dialogue. The doctors should realize that the public's patience is running out. How do they deal with serious accidents when patients are not treated in time due to the medical crisis? After all, the crisis should be ended as soon as possible through dialogue between medical and political circles.