As the doctors’ strike in South Korea entered its second week on Monday, the government issued a stern warning – return to work by February 29 or face punishments. The strike by young resident and intern doctors has disrupted medical services across hospitals in the country.
Government Issues Ultimatum as Chaos Mounts in Hospitals
With the strike causing chaos in hospitals and endangering emergency services, South Korea’s government gave protesting doctors until February 29 to return to work. Safety Minister Lee Sang-min said this was the “last plea” considering the gravity of the situation.
He urged doctors to return by the deadline, saying “your voice will be heard loudly and most effectively when you are by the side of patients.” The government has warned previously that it could prosecute doctors, arrest them, or strip their medical licenses if they do not comply with back-to-work orders.
Doctors Protest Government Medical Policy, Demand Better Pay and Working Conditions
The striking doctors, who account for two-thirds of South Korea’s resident and intern doctors, are protesting the government’s plan to increase the number of medical students. They say issues like low pay, long working hours, and poor conditions should be addressed first before expanding the number of doctors.
Senior doctors and private practitioners have held rallies in support, asking the government to scrap its medical school quota plan. But many South Koreans support the plan to increase the number of physicians in one of the world’s fastest aging populations.
Failure to Return by March 1 Means Loss of Medical License
Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo said doctors who do not return to work by March 1 will face a minimum three-month suspension of their medical license. They also face additional legal punishments like fines or even arrest.
As part of its package of policies to improve healthcare, the government plans to add 2,000 medical students per year. It will also expand legal protection for doctors against malpractice suits and prosecution.
Regional and Specialist Doctor Shortages Behind Government Plan
The government says its medical quota plan is necessary to address shortages of doctors in essential fields like pediatrics, general surgery, and in regional areas outside major cities. South Korea’s rapidly aging population means demand for healthcare will only increase in the coming years.
Some striking doctors accuse the government of pushing the plan purely to gain more votes in April’s general elections. Medical professors at the prestigious Seoul National University have called for postponing discussions on the plan until after the elections.
With neither side showing signs of backing down, the doctors’ strike seems set to intensify over the coming week unless a last-minute agreement can be reached. The government is gambling that its threat of harsh punishments will force young doctors to return to work. But if the warnings are ignored, the situation could spin out of control.
The coming days will decide whether cool heads will prevail to end the crisis, or if South Korea’s vaunted medical system will face its biggest challenge yet.
