SEOUL — Facing unprecedented levels of fatigue from an extended junior doctor strike, South Korea's medical professors are poised to reduce their working hours, a move set to commence this week across major hospitals.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the decision to cut back on hours comes as a direct response to the additional pressures placed on senior medical staff due to the ongoing junior doctor walkout. Bang Jae-seung, the committee's leader, conveyed at a Saturday press conference that the excessive demands have pushed professors to their limits, necessitating a significant adjustment to their schedules.
The committee detailed that, following a comprehensive review of working conditions, medical professors currently logging between 60 to 98 hours per week will now take requisite time off after any 24-hour continuous duty period. The adjusted approach aims to prioritize critical care and emergency services while limiting less urgent outpatient appointments and procedures.
Bang underscored the commitment to maintaining high standards of patient care, acknowledging the inconvenience this decision might pose to the public but emphasizing its necessity for safeguarding both patient and staff welfare amidst the ongoing healthcare strains.
This shift in work patterns is a reaction to the prolonged strike action initiated by over 90 percent of the nation's 13,000 trainee doctors, who have resigned en masse since February 20. The strike, a protest against a government proposal to significantly increase medical school admissions, has heightened concerns over medical service disruptions and patient care quality.
As the healthcare sector navigates these challenges, the focus remains on ensuring that the most critical medical needs are met, even as the system grapples with reduced staffing levels and heightened pressures on its remaining workforce.