The South Korean government mandated private practitioners to return to work on Tuesday. This order comes as more doctors, including medical professors, join an ongoing strike against the increase in medical school admissions.
Health Minister, Cho Kyoo-hong, reported that approximately four percent of the nation’s 36,000 private clinics informed the government of their intent to close on Tuesday in support of the protest.
Cho said, “To minimise the medical gap, the return-to-work order will be issued at 9 a.m. today.”
Earlier this month, the government had issued a return-to-work order to striking trainee doctors but later revoked it as a gesture of goodwill.
According to the law, doctors who ignore the return-to-work order could face license suspensions or other legal consequences.
President Yoon Suk Yeol described the doctors’ strike as “regretful and disappointing.”
During a cabinet meeting, Yoon stated that the government “has no choice but to deal firmly with illegal actions that disregard patients,” while also expressing a willingness to collaborate if the doctors resume work.
The Korea Medical Association, which opposes the government’s reforms, led Tuesday’s strike and organised a protest in Seoul, demanding a reassessment of the plan to increase medical school admissions.
“The government should respect all doctors as life-saving professionals, not as slaves, and listen to their concerns,” said Association President Lim Hyun-taek.
According to a Reuters witness, at least 10,000 people participated in the protest, with many wearing makeshift hats that reads “Prevent medical collapse.”
A survey conducted last week by local pollster nownsurvey revealed that nearly 80% of South Koreans are against the doctors’ strike.
Some doctors and medical staff have openly criticised the strike, which was in response to the government’s plan to increase medical school admissions to address the country’s doctor shortage.
Critics argue that merely increasing the number of doctors will not significantly improve essential services or the doctor shortage in rural areas.
On Monday, over half of the medical professors at Seoul National University hospitals began an indefinite strike.
Nancy Mbamalu
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