A government plan to increase the number of students admitted to medical schools is being opposed by nearly two thirds of the nation’s aspiring physicians, leading hospitals to turn away patients.
In Short
- Doctors in south korea oppose government plans to increase medical school admissions.
- A majority of respondents support the proposal.
- Hospitals face strain as doctors stage a walkout, leading to patient care challenges.
TFD – In South Korea, a healthcare crisis unfolds as doctors protest against a government proposal to boost medical school admissions. Amidst widespread support for the plan, hospitals grapple with the consequences, leaving patients in limbo.
South Korea’s SEOUL Following a widespread walkout by medical residents this week, South Korea elevated its health alert to the highest level on Friday. In response to mounting pressure on the healthcare system, the prime minister said that public hospitals would be extending their hours of operation.
Fearing more disruption to the medical system should the conflict continue, over two-thirds of the nation’s young doctors have walked off the work in protest of a government plan to accept more students to medical schools, forcing hospitals to turn away patients and cancel treatments.
At the commencement of a disaster management meeting, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo declared, “The operation of public medical institutions will be raised to the maximum level.”
According to him, public hospitals will increase their hours of operation and remain open on weekends and holidays.
According to the health ministry, about 8,400 doctors—or roughly 64% of all resident and intern doctors in South Korea—have joined the walkout thus far.
While they represent a far smaller fraction of the country’s 100,000 doctors overall, trainee doctors make up a big portion of the staff at teaching hospitals, more than 40% in some cases, and play a key role in the daily operations.
Their importance is particularly noticeable in large hospitals’ operating rooms, intensive care units, and emergency departments, where patients are referred by private practice clinics and secondary hospitals. Larger hospitals rely excessively on trainee doctors in part for cost reasons.
As of Friday, the government upgraded its health notice from “cautious” to “severe” due to the mounting strain on hospitals.
The largest hospitals in South Korea have seen a squeeze on their emergency departments as a result of trainee doctors quitting their jobs this week in opposition to the government plan.
Physicians who are participating in the demonstration claim that wages and working conditions, not the quantity of doctors, are the true concerns.
Instead of participating in the walkout with trainee doctors, senior medical professionals and members of the Korean Medical Association—which advocates for doctors in private practice—held demonstrations calling on the government to abandon its proposal.
On Sunday, a sizable protest is anticipated in Seoul.
The prime minister begged young doctors once more not to make a decision that would permanently damage the commitment and sacrifice they demonstrated during the Covid-19 outbreak, which had gained them the public’s respect.
In addition, he demanded that the medical profession quit “pushing young doctors” and stated that communication with the government is always welcome.
According to a recent Gallup Korea poll, the majority of respondents—roughly 76% of them—support the government’s proposal to boost admissions to medical schools. This support is unrelated to political affiliation.
Conclusion
As South Korea grapples with a healthcare crisis, the clash between doctors and the government underscores the complexities of medical education and patient care. While public opinion supports the admission proposal, the reality of hospital operations reveals significant challenges ahead.
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