South Korea’s government is gearing up to take decisive action to suspend the licenses of striking junior doctors starting next week, according to officials. Despite the ongoing strike’s adverse effects on medical services, the medical workers have persisted in their walkouts.
Impact of Doctors’ Strike
More than 90% of South Korea’s 13,000 medical interns and residents have been on strike for approximately a month, protesting against the government’s plan to significantly increase medical school admissions. The strikes have resulted in the cancellation of hundreds of surgeries and other medical treatments at hospitals across the country.
Need for More Doctors
Officials argue that South Korea, with its rapidly aging population and low doctor-to-population ratio, requires an increase in the number of doctors. However, doctors express concerns that sudden and steep increases in student admissions could overwhelm medical schools and undermine the quality of medical services in the country.
Administrative Measures
The government has been following a series of administrative procedures mandated to suspend the licenses of striking doctors who missed the government’s deadline to return to work by February 29. These steps include formally confirming the absences of strikers, notifying them of potential license suspensions, and providing them with opportunities to respond.
Call for Immediate Return to Work
Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo emphasized the urgency for striking doctors to return to work promptly. He warned of potential repercussions, including a minimum three-month suspension of their licenses and possible indictments by prosecutors for defying the government’s directive. Despite the looming threat, there is uncertainty about whether and how many striking doctors will heed the call to return to their duties, which could severely impact medical services in South Korea.
SOURCE: Ref Image from BBC
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