Korea’s top doctors’ committee on Saturday rejected the government’s revised medical reform plan, the initial version of which triggered a strike two months ago, Asian Media reported.
The strike by thousands of trainee doctors has caused chaos in South Korean hospitals and is in response to a plan to increase annual medical school enrolment by 2,000 from next year.
The government offered its first concession on Friday, allowing 32 universities to admit just 1,000 medical students instead of the originally proposed 2,000. However, the Korean Medical Association (KMA) said the plan should be completely abandoned within a week. Kim Sung-geun, a KMA spokesperson, told reporters:
Since this is not a fundamental solution, the emergency committee of the Korean Medical Association clearly states that it cannot accept it.
Friday’s government proposal came after President Yoon Suk Yeol’s conservative ruling party suffered a crushing defeat in parliamentary elections this month.
Kim Sung-geun further addressed the president, adding that there was one week left to resolve the issue:
For the sake of our country’s future and to protect the health of patients currently suffering, we ask the president… to discuss this again from square one.
The government contends its plan will alleviate the shortage of doctors in an aging society, but medical professionals and trainees say it will reduce the quality of education and healthcare.
In addition to trainee doctors, who play a key role in emergency procedures and surgeries at general hospitals, more than 50 per cent of the country’s medical students have also applied for leave, according to the education ministry.
The KMA warned that if the government does not relent, medical students are likely to be forced to repeat the year, senior doctors in general hospitals will start resigning on 25 April and the healthcare system could “collapse.” Nearly 60 per cent of those polled in the Dong-A Ilbo survey said the government should adjust the scope and timing of its reform plan. However, the main opposition Democratic Party also criticised Yun and called on him to revise his reform plan.
The government earlier warned of legal consequences if doctors do not return to work and suspended the medical licences of two KMA officials for allegedly inciting a strike.
Supporters of the plan say opposing doctors are simply trying to protect their salaries and social status: “Patients who were hopeful for a quick resolution now find themselves watching the situation unfold with despair,” Kim Sung-ju, the head of the Korean Cancer Patients Rights Council, told AFP.
We are overwhelmed by worry and fear as we question how much longer we can withstand this draining ordeal.
