Gov't-doctor standoff escalating with no settlement in sight

A doctor walks down a hallway in the Catholic University of Korea Seoul St. Mary's Hospital in Seoul, Thursday, the second day of a three-day strike by tens of thousands of doctors nationwide in protest of the government's medical workforce reforms. Yonhap

By Bahk Eun-ji

The ongoing standoff between the government and the medical community has been escalating as doctors have continued their nationwide strike, Thursday, for the second day in protest of the government's medical reform plan.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare warned of stern action against those participating in the doctors' strike, but it did not stop tens of thousands of interns and resident doctors at general hospitals participating in the second collective action.

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) organized the walkout, pledging an even stronger response if the government gives any disadvantages to its members.

“I will go to jail, so junior doctors should not give up this fight until the end,” KMA President Choi Dae-zip wrote on Facebook, Wednesday, encouraging doctors to continue the strike.

“If the government withdraws the reform plans, we will stop the strike and return to work immediately,” he continued. “I, who am heading the association, will be liable for any consequences caused.”

Choi also said the doctors' collective action was caused by the government's missteps, placing the blame for the medical service disruption on the government.

“Doctors who have devoted themselves to the treatment of patients were driven out of the field and kicked out into the street,” he said.

The health ministry issued an order, Wednesday, demanding trainee doctors at hospitals in the capital area return to work, after marathon talks with the KMA ended without a major breakthrough.

Administrative orders to prevent medical strikes have been issued to hospitals before but never to individual doctors. Violators of the order could have their medical licenses revoked if they are punished by the court.

In response to the continued strike that raises concerns over service disruption, President Moon Jae-in compared them to “soldiers who have deserted the battlefield in a wartime situation.”

Moon made the remarks at a meeting with Korean church leaders at Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. “The collective action of the medical community is causing anxiety and pain to the public,” he said. “It is like when the biggest fire ever broke out, but firefighters are joining the strike in front of the fire.”

As part of the country's medical workforce reform plan, the health ministry is planning to expand admission quotas at medical schools by 4,000 over 10 years starting in 2022, and to open a new public medical school, as it seeks to broaden the reach of healthcare services. This will increase the number of students admitted annually to medical schools to 3,458 in the 2022-31 period from the current 3,058, according to the plan.