Trainee doctors seen in cautious mode as gov't vows stern measures over collective action
Empty wheelchairs are lined up in front of a hospital in Seoul, Feb. 12. Yonhap
An association of trainee doctors was seen shifting into cautious mode Tuesday after it set up an emergency committee in protest of a government plan to increase the number of medical students, as the health ministry called on them to avert collective action against the plan.
The Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA), the major organization of trainee doctors, announced the resignation of its entire executive board, forming an emergency committee, but stopped short of making an announcement about their actions.
Doctors and the government have shown signs of heading for a collision course over last week's decision to add 2,000 to the country's medical school enrollment quota next year, a sharp rise from the current 3,058 seats.
Earlier in the day, Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo called for trainee doctors to avert looming collective action.
"We urge doctors to make a resolute decision to protect the patients by their side," Park told reporters. "The government will continue to make efforts to reform the medical sector to make hospitals a sustainable workplace."
Park said the government is still cautiously monitoring the situation amid lingering concerns that the trainee doctors could take collective action at any time.
Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo speaks during a briefing held in the central city of Sejong, Feb. 13. Yonhap
Korea has been pushing to raise the quota amid the country's chronic shortage of doctors in crucial areas, as medical professionals tend to prefer practicing in nonessential areas with lower risks.
The health ministry earlier made it clear that the government possesses the authority to potentially revoke doctors' licenses should they receive criminal punishments after failing to adhere to the order to return to work.
On Monday, the office of President Yoon Suk Yeol said the government's decision to increase the medical school quota is "irreversible," denouncing doctors' threats of collective action as unjustifiable.
The health ministry also decided on the previous day to establish an emergency hotline to address complaints related to the disruption of medical services, bracing for potential collective action by local doctors. (Yonhap)