Gov't urges trainee doctors to refrain from staging walkout

Doctors walk near a large hospital in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

The health ministry urged interns and resident doctors on Tuesday to refrain from going on strike to protest the government’s plan to increase the number of medical school students starting next year.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare issued the appeal due to concerns that a strike by interns and resident doctors, potentially involving actions such as taking annual leave or submitting resignation letters en masse, could have a more significant impact than actions by senior doctors. This strike poses the biggest challenge to the government's efforts to increase the medical school enrollment quota.

This appeal was based on the lessons of the past. During the previous Moon Jae-in government's 2020 proposal to raise the quota, fierce protests by trainee doctors, which included collective action, led to substantial inconveniences for patients, especially at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, as those physicians play a significant role in large hospitals. As a result, the Moon government eventually retracted its proposal.

During a media briefing, Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo urged the Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA), a group of interns and resident doctors, to "make a resolute decision to protect patients." This statement referred to the association's all-night discussion, during which its representatives deliberated on their upcoming actions.

Following the discussion, KIRA announced the resignation of its entire executive board and the establishment of an emergency response committee to address the government's actions. However, the association did not disclose specific details about its planned actions, such as the timing or methods of staging a collective walkout. The cautious approach was seen as a response to the government's warnings of stern repercussions for doctors participating in strikes, including the possibility of license revocations.

“We are relieved that there was no announcement by KIRA about collective action plans,” Park said.

“But, this is not a confirmation that the association will not engage in collective action. Thus, we are keeping our guard up and monitoring the development of situations. We have prepared various measures to respond to any kind of collective action.”

Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo speaks during a briefing at the Government Complex Sejong, Tuesday. Yonhap

Tensions between doctors and the government have escalated, with both sides heading for a collision course. This comes after the health ministry's announcement on Feb. 6 that the annual enrollment quota at 40 medical schools nationwide will increase next year to 5,058 from the current 3,058.

The government said the decision was aimed at addressing shortages of doctors and improving public access to medical services, while doctors raised concerns that expanding the number of placements for medical schools could adversely affect the quality of education and training.

In protest of the plan, the Korea Medical Association (KMA), the nation’s largest coalition of doctors, previously declared its intention to hold massive rallies across the nation on Thursday. The KMA also established an emergency response committee and indicated that it will soon finalize the details of additional collective action.

The Korea Emergency Medical Association followed suit by forming an emergency council, and said its members will join the collective action led by the KMA.

Regarding doctors’ resistance, Park said the government is determined to overcome any obstacles so that medical reforms, supported by the majority of the Korean people, will not falter due to objections from some.

“Doctors can criticize the government, but I strongly call on them not to take advantage of patients’ lives through collective leave or resignations,” Park said.

In addition, the second vice health minister denied rumors that the government’s push for the medical school quota hike was designed to woo voters ahead of general elections slated for April, stressing once again that the decision was aimed only at reforming the country’s health care system.

Rumors circulating within medical circles suggest that the government might consider compromising with the KMA by scaling back and reducing the number of medical students after the elections.

“We will promptly implement follow-up measures. We will consult with the education ministry so the distribution of the additional 2,000 students among medical schools can be determined before April,” Park said.