28-2-2024 (SEOUL) President Yoon Suk-yeol remains resolute in implementing a plan to increase medical school admissions in South Korea, despite ongoing protests from over 9,000 young doctors. The physicians argue that the healthcare sector doesn’t suffer from a shortage of doctors and are urging the government to address pay and working conditions first. President Yoon, however, asserts that there is no justification for the protests and maintains a hardline stance on the reform.
The plan includes boosting the number of students admitted to medical schools, expanding legal protection for doctors, and improving healthcare services in rural areas. President Yoon has compared the situation to the truckers’ strike in 2022, stating that negotiations or compromise are not viable options. He deems the collective action by the doctors as holding public health and lives hostage.
While several ministers have threatened legal action against the protesting doctors, including the suspension of licences, President Yoon stands firm on his commitment to the healthcare reforms. Recent polls indicate that many Koreans support Yoon’s plan, boosting his approval ratings ahead of the April general election.
The ongoing strike has disrupted services at major hospitals, with emergency rooms turning away patients and the cancellation or postponement of surgeries and procedures. In response, health authorities have granted nurses the right to perform some medical procedures traditionally conducted by doctors to alleviate the strain on hospital staff.
Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo has urged young doctors to return to work by Feb 29 to avoid punishment, including the suspension of licences and possible prosecution. The government asserts its right to limit doctors’ actions in the public interest. Senior doctors who have not joined the walkout have held rallies supporting the repeal of the government’s plan.
In response to one of the protesters’ demands for increased legal protection from malpractice, Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong has announced accelerated efforts to legislate unprecedented legal protection for doctors. This legislation aims to facilitate swift compensation for patients who suffer injuries during medical procedures while enabling doctors to focus on their work.
