Major General Hospitals in Seoul Report No Significant Service Disruptions amid Professors’ Voluntary Suspension of Services

Operations at Seoul hospitals affiliated with three major universities are proceeding without much confusion on Tuesday, despite medical professors’ decision to restrict services for one day to recover from working extended work hours amid a prolonged medical vacuum.

According to an official at Seoul National University(SNU) Hospital, many professors are carrying out their duties as usual since participation in the suspension of outpatient consultations and non-emergency surgeries is voluntary. Others taking part have reportedly rescheduled consultations and surgeries.

The situation is reportedly similar at Severance Hospital, with a hospital representative saying that some professors are known to have stayed on the job after being unable to reschedule with their patients in a short period of time.

Emergency committees representing the professors, however, believe that a considerable number of their members have opted to reduce services after rescheduling.

Korea University Medicine’s Anam, Guro and Ansan hospitals also did not report a significant absence of professors, with a Guro hospital official saying that the hospital chief had persuaded clinical professors to fulfill their duties to patients by continuing with consultations as normal.