SEOUL - A mass walkout by approximately 12,000 trainee doctors in South Korea has entered its 20th day, significantly disrupting health care services across the country. The government has been compelled to enact emergency measures to address the shortfall of medical personnel resulting from the strike. The protest, which involves over 90 percent of the country's 13,000 medical interns and residents, is a reaction to the government's decision to increase medical school admissions by 2,000 in the following year.
According to Yonhap News Agency, a pilot program was introduced last month allowing nurses to perform certain duties typically reserved for doctors, albeit in a limited capacity. Furthermore, the government has taken steps to open emergency units at military hospitals to the public and plans to deploy military and public doctors to private hospitals nationwide for the next four weeks starting Monday. Concurrently, officials have reiterated their commitment to expanding medical student enrollment while issuing warnings to striking trainee doctors who have been accused of harassing their colleagues who chose to return to work.
Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong expressed the government's stance in a recent meeting, condemning any form of attack or coercion against medical professionals committed to their duties amidst the strike. The government has also initiated procedures to suspend the medical licenses of those participating in the strike, with notifications being sent to doctors yet to resume work. These documents outline the consequences of continued absence, including potential license suspension if feedback is not provided by March 25.
The strike has not only led to a significant delay and cancellation of surgeries and other medical treatments but has also prompted discussions within the medical community about the government's healthcare policies. Critics of the strike argue that the underlying motive is a concern over increased competition and reduced income for doctors. Meanwhile, the Korean Medical Association (KMA) maintains that the government's plan fails to address deeper issues within the healthcare system, such as disparities in doctor distribution and shortages in less lucrative medical fields.
Efforts to resolve the impasse have seen mixed results, with some medical school professors resigning in protest against their institutions' acceptance of the government's expansion plan. Despite ongoing dialogue attempts, a resolution to the dispute remains elusive, highlighting the complex challenges facing South Korea's healthcare system amid the ongoing strike by trainee doctors.