16-3-2024 (SEOUL) A consortium of senior doctors in South Korea announced on Saturday, March 16th, their intention to tender resignations starting March 25th, in solidarity with junior medical professionals engaged in a nearly month-long strike over government-driven training reforms, which have thrown hospitals into disarray.
Since February 20th, thousands of trainee doctors have ceased work to protest against reforms aimed at alleviating doctor shortages by increasing the intake of medical students. These reforms, the doctors argue, exacerbate the burden on already overworked and underpaid early-career professionals.
The strike has resulted in the cancellation of critical surgeries and treatments. However, the government contends that the country has managed to avoid a complete crisis thus far, partly due to the efforts of nurses, senior doctors, and military medics deployed to assist.
Representatives of medical professors from 20 universities, who also hold senior positions in general hospitals, convened a meeting late on Friday. According to Bang Jae-seung, the group’s leader, professors from 16 institutions overwhelmingly supported backing their junior colleagues.
Bang informed reporters on Saturday that professors at each university had decided to voluntarily tender their resignations starting March 25th. However, he stressed that until the resignations take effect, every individual should continue prioritizing patient care as they have done previously.
The exact number of professors expected to participate in the walkout on March 25th was not disclosed by Bang.
Despite the protests, the health ministry reiterated this week that negotiations regarding the reform plans were non-negotiable, affirming its commitment to implementing healthcare reforms “without wavering.”
In response, the government has compelled junior medics to return to work under threat of legal action. It has also moved to suspend the medical licenses of those who refuse to comply, while offering incentives and establishing a hotline to support dissenters.
Seoul aims to increase annual medical school admissions by 2,000 students from next year to address what it perceives as one of the lowest doctor-to-population ratios among developed nations.
Bang asserted on Saturday that doctors cannot accept an increase of 2,000 students under any circumstances. He implored the government to reconsider, emphasising that without revision, negotiation would be impossible.
He warned, “If the current situation persists, it won’t be long before university hospitals collapse, dealing a significant and long-lasting blow to our country’s medical system.”
Doctors argue that the reform will compromise service quality and medical education. However, proponents of the plan accuse them of seeking to protect their salaries and social standing.
This week, junior doctors claimed they had sought “emergency intervention” from the International Labour Organization (ILO), alleging government coercion into unwanted labour. The government dismissed these allegations.
Despite broad public support for the reform plan, a recent poll by local media found that 34% of respondents wished for the government to negotiate to resolve the impasse.
