Doctors planning to form labor union

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) has decided to form a doctors’ union, causing public concern that the move may negatively impact their duties to patients.

The president of the KMA, Roh Hwan-kyu suggested the formation of the union saying that it was necessary to protect doctors’ rights and, as he believes, to enhance medical services.

“There are too many cases of doctors’ rights being violated. Medical specialists, professors, and even trainees are degraded as cheap laborers. Hospital management doesn’t think about solving the fundamental problems regarding medical fees and tries to boost income with cheap labor,” said Roh.

“We’re considering establishing a nationwide doctors’ union by September at the earliest. We’re planning to create an organization that includes all medical practitioners from specialists, professors to interns and residents. The union will be categorized by region and specialty.”

Roh first made the suggestion at a conference held to discuss the future of medical trainee doctors last Thursday hosted by the KMA and the Korea Intern Resident Association.

“Even if you think that your job is noble because you save lives, hospital management will still think of you as cheap laborers. To protect doctors’ rights, we need a labor union. A union should not necessarily be viewed negatively,” he said at the conference.

He asked the 300 attendees at the conference whether they thought the creation of a union was necessary and almost all the participants raised their hands.

“In the past, many doctors were hostile to the idea of a union but I believe it will be a stepping stone to protect doctors’ rights,” he said.

If the union is set up, it may engage in a work-to-rule struggle which means there may be gaps in the treatment schedule. If the doctors do no more than the minimum required by the rules of their contract, they may no longer work over time as they are currently doing, missing out on appointments that go over their working hours.

Many medical trainees such as interns and residents are known to work over 100 hours per week.

“The trainee doctors are especially vulnerable. If they don’t receive protection from hospitals, they need to seek some self-protection,” said Roh. However, there are criticisms that the formation of the union is strictly for selfish reasons.

“It’s the height of collectivism. How can doctors who are in the elite group, who are the “haves” engage in labor activities? Then should all of the members of our society engage in collective action?” tweeted @ssg***.

Meanwhile, the KMA withdrew last Friday their plan to boycott a number of operations as an act of protest against the diagnosis related group (DRG) system, also known as the fixed price system, which allows patients to pay for hospital services in a bundle.

The organization, however, stated that it will continue to oppose the system. <The Korea Times/Yun Suh-young>

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