20-2-2024 (SEOUL) South Korea’s government has issued a directive for over 1,000 junior doctors to resume their duties following widespread walkouts in opposition to proposed plans to augment the number of doctors within the healthcare system.
On Monday, more than 6,000 interns and residents tendered their resignations, signaling their disagreement with the government’s initiative to address the country’s low doctor-per-patient ratio among OECD nations. The move aims to increase medical school placements, but doctors are resisting, expressing concerns about heightened competition.
South Korea boasts a predominantly privatized healthcare system, where most procedures are linked to insurance payments, and over 90% of hospitals operate as private entities. Despite doctors being among the highest-paid globally, with average earnings of nearly $200,000 (£159,000) per year according to 2022 OECD data, the country faces a shortage, with only 2.5 doctors per 1,000 people – the second-lowest rate in the OECD after Mexico.
Professor Soonman Kwon, a public health expert at Seoul National University, commented, “More doctors mean more competition and reduced income for them… that is why they are against the proposal to increase physician supply.”
Reports emerged on Tuesday of doctors refusing to report to hospitals nationwide, causing anxiety among patients and health officials. Junior doctors, essential in emergency wards, make up a significant portion of the workforce, with up to 37% potentially affected at major hospitals in Seoul.
The health ministry reported that 1,630 doctors did not attend work on Monday, out of 6,415 who submitted resignation letters. Organizers had announced a comprehensive strike starting Tuesday.
“We are deeply disappointed in the situation where trainee doctors are refusing to work,” stated Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo, adding that legal measures may be pursued to compel physicians to return to work under the Medical Services Act.
The government, consistent in condemning doctors’ opposition to healthcare improvement plans, faces a challenge in maintaining essential medical services. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo emphasized, “This is something that takes the lives and health of the people hostage.”
The full impact of the strike remains uncertain, but warnings of surgery delays and gaps in care have been issued. Some hospitals have implemented contingency plans, and the government expanded telehealth services in response.
Similar to events in 2020, when up to 80% of junior doctors participated in strikes against government recruitment plans, the current protests highlight long-standing efforts by policymakers to address a projected shortage of 15,000 doctors by 2035.
President Yoon Suk-yeol’s proposal to add 2,000 spots annually to medical schools, a popular policy among the public, faces strong opposition from the medical profession. The Korean Medical Association argues that increased intake could strain national health insurance funds, while the union contends that it may not address shortages in specific fields.
Junior doctors initiated the strike, raising concerns that professionals across the medical sector may join. In 2020, doctors successfully resisted a similar government attempt to increase medical graduates, with concessions made due to pressure during the Covid pandemic.
“It is not easy to predict who will win [this time],” said Prof Kwon, noting President Yoon’s determination amidst vulnerability in a privately dominated health system susceptible to full-scale strikes.
