South Korea: Medical professors in South Korea have announced their decision to reduce their practice hours starting Monday in solidarity with trainee doctors who have been on strike for over a month. The strike was initiated in protest against a government proposal to increase medical school admissions.
“It is clear that increasing medical school admissions will not only ruin medical school education but cause our country’s healthcare system to collapse,” Kim Chang-soo, the president of the Medical Professors Association of Korea, told reporters.
He said the professors will start scaling back outpatient treatment to focus on emergency and severely ill patients, while some will submit their resignations.
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The strike by trainee doctors has resulted in several hospitals rejecting patients and postponing procedures. While the government argues that increasing admissions is necessary to address the shortage of doctors in an ageing society, critics argue that improving the working conditions of trainee doctors should be the priority.
The trainee doctors have been striking since February 20, despite President Yoon Suk Yeol's determination to implement the admissions plan as part of his healthcare reform agenda. The government has threatened to suspend the licenses of striking doctors, but President Yoon has recently signalled a more conciliatory approach, urging the Prime Minister to explore flexible measures and establish a consultative body to engage with medical professionals.
According to a Gallup poll released on March 15, 38% said the government was doing a good job dealing with backlash from doctors and the medical void amid the doctors’ strike while 49% said “not a good job”, reports Reuters.
team had earlier reported that in a bold move, South Korean authorities have announced the suspension of licenses for two senior doctors, marking the first punitive action against physicians amidst ongoing protests by medical interns and residents. The protests, which have spanned several weeks, have significantly disrupted hospital operations across the nation.
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