SEOUL - The ongoing disruptions in medical services in South Korea have prompted growing concern among patients and their families, with many fearing that the situation may prolong. Following a monthlong walkout by trainee doctors protesting against the expansion of the medical school quota, general hospitals across the nation have reduced service capacities, leading to significant impacts on healthcare delivery.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the standoff between the government and the medical community is intensifying, with the Korean Medical Association demanding the withdrawal of the quota increase before any dialogue can proceed. The government, on the other hand, has announced plans to finalize follow-up measures for the distribution of 2,000 additional admission seats to universities by the end of May, further fueling the conflict.
The situation has been exacerbated by medical professors at various universities and general hospitals nationwide, who have begun submitting mass resignations in support of the trainee doctors' walkout. This collective action threatens to deepen the disruptions in healthcare services, leaving patients and their caregivers increasingly anxious about access to essential surgeries and medical treatments.
Personal stories from affected individuals highlight the severity of the situation. A woman, whose mother has been diagnosed with stage-four breast cancer, expressed her fears that the disruptions could interfere with her mother's critical anticancer therapy. Meanwhile, a kidney disease patient lamented the potential consequences of further resignations among medical professors, equating it to a death sentence for patients in need of regular care.
In response to the crisis, regional units of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions have organized rallies calling for the immediate normalization of medical services. These actions underscore the widespread demand for a resolution to the service vacuum, which is perceived as endangering patient lives and violating the right to healthcare.
The reduction in outpatient services and operation capacities at major hospitals, including Seoul National University Hospital and Asan Medical Center, demonstrates the tangible effects of the trainee doctors' walkout on healthcare operations. With more medical professors expected to join the collective action in the coming days, the urgency for a solution to restore normal medical services has never been more critical.