MADRID, 24 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The teaching staff of South Korea’s medical schools have been called to join the strike that intern doctors have been carrying out for more than a month to protest against the health reform promoted by the South Korean Government. Teachers will also progressively reduce working hours in hospitals.
In a first measure of pressure, they will reduce their weekly working hours to 52, which will affect the scheduling of surgical operations and other medical treatments, as explained by the National Council of Professors of Medical Schools and reported by the South Korean news agency Yonhap.
Starting April 1, they will “minimize” the medical services provided to outpatients to concentrate on caring for the most seriously ill and urgent cases. A spokesperson for the organization explained that the decision to resign and reduce outpatient care is to ensure safe treatment for inpatients and serious cases, and they will continue to treat patients until their resignations are accepted.
The Minister of Health, Cho Kyoo Hong, has expressed concern about these actions and has urged teachers to prioritize patient care. The Government plans to strengthen the emergency medical response system to minimize the effects of the strike.
Over 90% of the country’s 13,000 resident doctors have resigned in protest against the Government’s plan to increase the number of medical training places from 3,000 to 5,000 for the next academic year. Doctors argue that this proposal is unsustainable for universities that do not have the capacity to handle the increase, and it does not address issues such as the lack of incentives for lower-paid specialties and the need to cover positions in remote areas.
Authorities have issued return-to-work orders citing serious risk to public health. Failure to comply could result in penalties, including the withdrawal of medical licenses, imprisonment for up to three years, and fines. The government has also mobilized military doctors and may call upon retired doctors to address the strike’s impact on medical services.