<Anchor> The

medical community and the government were unable to narrow the gap over health care policies such as expansion of medical school capacity. The Ministry of Health and Welfare issued an order to return to the patient care work to the major and full-time doctors at university hospitals located in the metropolitan area at 8 am on the 26th.

This is Max Shik, reporter.

<Reporter> The

Ministry of Health and Welfare said it had been negotiating with the Korean Medical Association and the Majors Council, but it did not reach an agreement.

Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo issued an order to commence business, that is, to return to medical service for the majors and full-time doctors of university hospitals in the metropolitan area at 8 o'clock this morning.

The government plans to issue orders to commence operations in the order of surgery/delivery/dialysis rooms in metropolitan training hospitals, emergency/intensive care units in non-metropolitan areas, and surgery/delivery/dialysis rooms in non-metropolitan areas.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare said that if there is a gap in treatment due to failure to return to work and damage to the patient occurs, it will respond strictly.

[Park Neung-hoo/Minister of Health and Welfare: The law stipulates imprisonment for not more than 3 years, fine of 30 million won or less, suspension of license for less than one year, or cancellation of license for violation of the

order to commence business .] For local councilors who do not follow, we decided to request a strict response, including administrative disposition, to the local government.

In a dialogue with the public, the Korean Medical Association expressed its sincere apology to the public, saying that although it was sincerely and fiercely engaged in working-level negotiations with the government, it was unable to reach an agreement and that it has been forced to engage in collective action for three days from today.

In addition, he asked for the public's understanding, saying that the medical community's collective action is to urge the government to change.