Jacob Brown
Around 12,000 trainee physicians from 100 hospitals have walked out over government reform programs.
Military and Public Health Assistance:
South Korea has announced plans to deploy military physicians and doctors from public health centres to hospitals affected by a prolonged strike led by trainee doctors.
Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong disclosed that 20 military surgeons and 138 public health doctors will be dispatched to 20 hospitals for a duration of four weeks.
Limited Military Support:
Despite the deployment, the number of military physicians allocated for assistance remains a fraction of the total military doctor workforce, which stands at approximately 2,400, as reported by a Defence Ministry briefing.
Trainee Doctor Strike:
The strike, initiated on February 20 by around 12,000 trainee doctors across 100 hospitals, is in protest against government proposals to expand medical school admissions to address shortages exacerbated by an ageing population.
The walkout has led to patient rejections and procedure delays in affected hospitals.
Government Response:
Efforts to persuade the striking doctors to resume work have been largely unsuccessful. The government has issued warnings of potential suspension of medical licences, yet this threat has not deterred the protesting doctors.
License Suspension Threat:
In a recent development, the Health Ministry revealed that administrative notifications, marking the initial step towards suspending medical licences, have been sent to over 4,900 trainee doctors who defied orders to return to hospitals.
The government had previously warned of a three-month licence suspension, which could significantly delay their career progression.
Appeal for Return:
Chun Byung-wang, Director of the Health Ministry’s health and medical policy division, urged the trainee doctors to prioritize patient care and reconsider their stance amidst escalating tensions.
