SEOUL. South Korea’s health minister announced on Monday that authorities will commence legal action against trainee doctors who have persisted in a walkout, defying government orders to return to work amidst escalating tensions over medical school admissions.
The ongoing walkout, which began on Feb. 20, has seen approximately 9,000 resident and intern doctors, constituting about 70% of the nation’s medical workforce, leaving their posts. This mass absenteeism has resulted in the postponement of surgeries and treatments, placing significant strain on emergency medical services.
Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong conveyed during a televised briefing that inspections of hospitals will be conducted immediately to identify doctors still participating in the walkout, with legal actions to follow swiftly. Cho emphasized the potential repercussions for doctors who choose not to return to work.
“From today, we plan to conduct on-site inspections to confirm trainee doctors who have not returned, and take action according to the law and principle without exception,” Minister Cho stated, highlighting the gravity of the situation. “Please keep in mind that doctors who have not returned may experience serious problems in their personal career path.”
Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo later disclosed that steps would be taken to suspend the medical licenses of approximately 7,000 trainee doctors who have abandoned their duties.
Concerns among patients outside major hospitals in Seoul were palpable, with many expressing worries about prolonged disruptions in healthcare services. A patient identified only as Song underscored the importance of dialogue between doctors and the government to resolve the standoff swiftly, while renal dialysis patient Lee Hye-ji voiced anxiety about potential consequences if medical services continue to be disrupted.
The Korean Medical Association (KMA), representing private practitioners, apologized for the inconvenience caused by the strike but maintained its stance against the government’s medical reforms. The association accused authorities of engaging in a “witch-hunt” against doctors.
Internationally, the World Medical Association condemned the South Korean government’s actions, asserting the right of doctors to collective action. Meanwhile, the striking doctors insist that the government address issues related to pay and working conditions before proceeding with plans to increase medical school admissions.
The government’s proposal to increase medical school enrollments by 2,000 starting in the 2025 academic year aims to address a shortage of physicians in an ageing society. Despite some public support for the initiative, critics accuse President Yoon Suk Yeol’s administration of provoking unnecessary confrontation ahead of parliamentary elections in April.
The current standoff mirrors a similar situation in 2020 when President Moon Jae-in shelved plans to increase doctor numbers following a strike by trainee doctors amid the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
