Major medical strike set for August 11

Despite a request for a return to the negotiation table by Minister of Health and Welfare Choi Sun-Jung, the Korean Medical Association has decided to stage a general strike August 11.

In addition to the current walkout by specialists and residents at major hospitals, causing a major health-care crisis for patients, the spread of walkouts to neighborhood doctors could once again throw the nation into a full medical crisis.

The KMA held an emergency board meeting on the night of August 8 and reversed its earlier position of non-support for the walkout and decided on a nationwide strike by all its members.

It has been revealed that Minister Choi had made a visit to the KMA on the afternoon of Aug. 8 and reportedly said, "Let us get together for a honest open-minded dialogue."

However, the KMA standing board of executives stressed that as the implementation of medical reform has led to the rise of both foreseen and unforeseen problems and as the members of the KMA have made known their will to join the current walkout by the specialists and residents, the KMA has decided to call for a nationwide strike.

Kim Joon-Seok kjs359@donga.com