SEOUL — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has directed Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to intensify communications with the medical sector about the government’s new health reform proposals. This instruction came as a response to the ongoing strikes by junior doctors, which have persisted for more than a month against plans to increase medical school admissions.
According to Yonhap News Agency, President Yoon emphasized the importance of close dialogue with various societal sectors, particularly the medical community, during his regular meeting with Prime Minister Han at the presidential office. The medical practitioners are protesting the government's proposal to boost the number of medical school slots by 2,000 starting the following year.
In addition to addressing the medical community's concerns, President Yoon also tasked the Prime Minister with exploring "flexible" solutions regarding the potential suspension of medical licenses, a measure expected to be applied to protesting doctors from Tuesday. Moreover, Yoon instructed Han to ensure the smooth management of the upcoming April 10 parliamentary elections, with a focus on facilitating transportation for voters with mobility issues.
In line with the President’s directives, Prime Minister Han is scheduled to meet with medical community representatives at Seoul National University Hospital on Tuesday, as confirmed by Han's office.
SEOUL — In South Korea, senior medical professors have started to resign and cut back their work hours in solidarity with a continuing strike by trainee doctors, challenging the government's recent health reform plans. This collective action comes amid the government's efforts to initiate dialogue concerning the contentious reforms, which propose an increase in the number of medical students.According to Yonhap News Agency, 19 out of 40 medical schools in the country have seen professors submitting their resignations on Monday. This mass resignation aligns with the ongoing strike initiated by over 90% of the country's 13,000 trainee doctors since February 20, protesting the government's decision to increase the medical school enrollment quota by 2,000 seats.
The prospect for negotiations between the government and medical community surfaced on Sunday following President Yoon Suk Yeol's appeal for flexibility regarding the suspension of licenses for non-compliant trainee doctors. Despite this, a faction of medical professors has demanded the complete abandonment of the increased admission plan, stating they will only engage in discussions if the government retracts its proposal.
This demand from the Medical Professors Association of Korea has intensified the standoff, complicating the government's efforts to convene talks with the medical sector. The association has made clear that a resolution to the crisis hinges on the government's willingness to withdraw the expansion plan.
The situation has led to significant disruptions, with mass resignations at major institutions such as Yonsei University College of Medicine and the University of Ulsan's medical faculty, where 433 out of roughly 1,000 professors have stepped down. Similarly, faculty members at Seoul National University and its associated hospital have started submitting voluntary resignations.
In addition to resignations, the medical professors plan to limit their weekly work hours to 52, adjusting surgical and treatment schedules accordingly. Despite these measures, the government, through Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong, has expressed its intention to expedite dialogue with the medical community. However, the efficacy of potential discussions remains uncertain, especially after the government's recent move to allocate the additional 2,000 admission seats to universities.
The government defends its plan by citing the need to address the doctor shortage, particularly in rural areas and specialized medical fields. Conversely, the medical community argues that increasing the quota will dilute the quality of medical education and services and lead to an excess of physicians, stressing the need for improved protection against malpractice suits and better incentives for doctors working in less popular regions.
SEOUL — The mass resignation of medical professors across South Korea, beginning Monday, has escalated patient and family anxieties amid ongoing disruptions in hospital operations. The resignations, in solidarity with a widespread walkout by trainee doctors protesting the government's plan to increase medical school admissions, were initially observed among faculty at Korea University's medical school and have extended to other institutions, including Chosun University in Gwangju.According to Yonhap News Agency, while medical professors at general hospitals are continuing their duties pending the acceptance of their resignations, some have signaled intentions to reduce their working hours in protest. The move threatens to exacerbate health care service disruptions nationwide, already impacted by the month-long junior doctors’ strike.
Patients have expressed concerns over delays and cancellations in medical treatments and surgeries. In Daegu, a new mother shared her worries about potential delays in her baby’s necessary surgery due to the dwindling availability of medical staff. Similarly, a patient from Namwon lamented the challenges in securing hospital appointments for ongoing bladder infection issues, attributing these difficulties to the absence of trainee doctors.
Despite these challenges, a hospital official in Gwangju indicated that emergency surgeries would likely continue despite reduced faculty working hours. Meanwhile, the health ministry has engaged in dialogue attempts following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s recent appeal for a more flexible approach towards the striking medical personnel. Nonetheless, the Medical Professors Association of Korea maintains its stance, willing to negotiate only if the government retracts its decision to increase medical school admissions.