SEOUL — South Korean doctors have issued a stern warning of potential "unbearable" actions, including an indefinite strike, if the government persists in threatening interns and residents who oppose its proposal to increase the number of medical students. The Korea Medical Association (KMA), which represents a significant number of the country's medical professionals, voiced its opposition following indications from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) of firm measures against the doctors' planned strike against the quota increase.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the emergency committee expressed "strong regret over the government's inappropriate comments" that included threats of revoking medical licenses and discouraging doctors from voluntarily resigning as trainees. The committee also warned of possible legal action if the government's intimidation tactics continued.
The conflict escalates as the government and the PPP maintain a hardline stance against medical practitioners protesting the plan to increase the medical student population by 2,000. This plan aims to address the doctor shortage but has met with fierce opposition from the medical community.
In a significant move, trainee doctors at five major hospitals in Seoul announced plans to submit their resignation letters and initiate a strike next Tuesday, as confirmed by the Korea Intern Resident Association. These hospitals, including Asan Medical Center, Samsung Medical Center, Severance Hospital, Seoul National University Hospital, and Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, are crucial to the country's healthcare system, especially for critical patient care.
In response, the health ministry ordered 221 training hospitals to prohibit mass leave and ensure the presence of essential medical staff, reiterating the government's commitment to stern actions against any collective doctor action that jeopardizes patient safety. The government also instructed training hospitals to reject the resignation letters from intern and resident doctors, underscoring the classification of doctors as essential workers who must return to work under an administrative order.
Public opinion appears to side with the government's stance, as a survey by the Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union in December revealed that 89.3 percent of respondents supported the plan to increase the medical student quota, and 85.6 percent opposed doctors striking.
Amidst these tensions, medical students are also considering boycotting classes in mass protest against the quota increase plan, indicating a growing discontent within the medical community towards the government's healthcare policies.