[Editorial] Not again doctors' strike!

One month`s trial period is now over for the education of the general public about the introduction of the new system to separate professional roles between doctor`s prescription and pharmacist`s dispensation of drugs.

It`s implementation is experiencing great difficulties because of the medical community`s last-ditch efforts to protest against the new system which is slated to go into effect in full force as of tomorrow. Last week, the Korean Medical Association (KMA) announced that it will not participate in the new system.

The KMA also let its position known to go on a general strike tomorrow as some 66.1 percent of its members are known to be in favor of the strike. In the matter of the principle to separate doctors` prescription from pharmacists` dispensation of drugs, we have supported all along the position taken by the medical community that doctors` right to diagnosis and treatment must fully be guaranteed. We also recognize that the stand taken by doctors is not simply motivated by their self-serving, selfish interests.

But, it is also our firm belief that any collective cessation of medical services or doctors` walkout, taking the people`s lives and health as hostage, for any cause or reason can not be tolerated for the public`s interest.

What doctors demanded during a week of their collective walkouts in last month was the banning of chemists` discretionary or substitute dispensation of drugs. The 6-member sub-committee of the National Assembly`s welfare committee and the judicial committee have already

passed the Pharmaceutical Law (PL) revisions which reflect the most of doctors` demands.

Although the final passage of the Law`s revisions is still pending at the plenary session, it is only because the parliament is in paralysis since the recent railroading passage of the National Assembly Law revisions. Nevertheless, the ruling and the opposition parties arrived at a consensus that they will act on the PL revisions at the plenary session.

This being the case, the parliament`s such delay of the PL revisions can hardly be a persuasive, if not clumsy, cause to prompt the doctors` all-out strikes against the implementation of the new system to separate the prescription from the dispensation of drugs. Moreover, there are criticisms levelled at the KMA`s inconsistent positions.

The KMA stated that it will observe the new system once the Law`s revisions are passed, but contradicted many times the statement by reverting to strikes. In particular, the KMA`s strike committee made clear in its internal reports that it has a weak case to again stage strikes. In view of such reports,

we find it hard to understand its repeated, extreme protests. No small amount of confusion, or trial and errors, are expected to arise in the implementation of the new system from tomorrow even if doctors and pharmacists would all be ready for a new practice. Most pharmacies are, however, still far from keeping adequate medicines.

Only 40 percent of the country`s drug stores are known to have in stock the most frequently prescribed medicines. If the cooperation between doctors and chemists is not forthcoming, the people`s inconvenience and suffering may last for an extended period of time and the new system to specialize their professional roles may have to end in a failure.

Granted, it is not easy to change a long established medical practice. Nor is it possible to expect a perfect system over night. Keeping in mind the people`s health and the minimization of their inconvenience to be our foremost concern, our step-by-step approach and composure are

needed to remedy any problems that may arise in implementing the principle of the specialization of roles between physicians and pharmacists.

Due measures must also urgently be taken to offset the losses in income for hospitals and medical clinics due to the new system. We should emphasize again that any recurrence of walkouts or the cessation of hospital services can in no way be tolerated.