Trainee doctors strike, South Korea raises alert to highest level

Doctors protest against plans to increase medical school enrollment in front of the Presidential Office in Seoul, South Korea, February 22 - Photo: REUTERS

Nearly two-thirds of South Korea's young doctors have quit their jobs in protest against the government 's plan to increase admissions to medical schools.

The strike has forced hospitals to turn away patients and cancel surgeries, raising fears of further disruption to the country's health system.

South Korea raises health alert

Opening a disaster response meeting, South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck Soo said: "The operations of public medical facilities will be raised to the maximum level."

According to Mr. Han, public hospitals will extend their operating hours, opening on weekends and holidays.

The South Korean Health Ministry also allowed all hospitals and clinics to provide telemedicine services, helping to cope with the impact of the resident doctors' strike.

According to the South Korean Ministry of Health, more than 8,400 doctors have joined the strike so far, equivalent to 64% of all interns and residents in South Korea.

Although they make up only a small fraction of the nation's 100,000 physicians, trainees make up a large portion of the staff at teaching hospitals.

Some hospitals have trainee doctors accounting for more than 40% and playing an important role in daily operations.

The role of trainee doctors is particularly evident in emergency rooms, intensive care units and operating rooms in major hospitals, where patients from secondary hospitals and private clinics flock.

Large hospitals rely heavily on trainee physicians partly for cost reasons.

Growing pressure on hospitals has prompted the government to raise the health alert to “severe” since February 23.

Government calls for de-escalation

South Korea says it has the lowest doctor-to-population ratio among developed countries and as a result, the government is making efforts to increase the number of doctors.

But the plan has faced opposition from doctors and trainees, who argue that increasing the number of medical school places will hurt quality, when the real problem is wages and working conditions, not the number of doctors.

Senior doctors and members of the Korean Medical Association, which represents doctors in private practice, did not join the trainees in the protests. But they also held demonstrations demanding the government cancel its plans.

According to Reuters, a large protest is expected to take place in Seoul on Sunday, February 25.

Meanwhile, the South Korean prime minister once again urged young doctors not to make wrong decisions and forever tarnish the sacrifices and dedication they have shown during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has earned them public respect.

Mr Han also called on the medical community to stop "incentivising young doctors" and said the government was always open to dialogue.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bac-si-tap-su-dinh-cong-han-quoc-nang-canh-bao-len-cao-nhat-20240223113752585.htm