Seeking its first talks with striking junior doctors, South Korea has warned them to return to hospitals ahead of a looming deadline or risk legal action over work stoppages that have plunged hospitals into chaos.
Last week, nearly 10,000 junior doctors, about 80 percent of the trainee workforce, handed in their notice and walked off the job to protest government plans to sharply increase medical school admissions to cope with shortages and an aging society.
The plan is criticised by doctors who argue it would compromise the quality of service, with the Korean Medical Association (KMA) condemning the government’s “intimidation tactics”.
Despite this, South Korean law prohibits doctors from striking, and the government has issued warnings of arrests and suspension of medical licenses for medics who fail to return to work by Thursday.
Park Min-soo, the Second Vice Health Minister, reported reaching out to doctors engaged in the strike to initiate dialogue, expressing optimism about a potential meeting later on Thursday.
However, he admitted uncertainty regarding the expected attendance.
According to Park, doctors have started returning to work in hospitals. “We have observed a decrease in the number of walkouts for two consecutive days,” he stated during a press briefing.
Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong informed local media on Thursday that “a complete return has not yet occurred.”
“As today marks the final day to return, I urge them to do so for the sake of the patients,” he stated, emphasizing that medics who resumed work before the deadline would not face punishment.
Stating the government’s commitment to its reform plan, which includes a 65 percent increase in medical school admissions, Cho highlighted shortages of health professionals and an impending demographic crisis.
As for potential talks, the KMA has not commented, but a social media account run by young doctors shared a screenshot of a text message from the government, accompanied by the remark: “You must be joking.”
According to analysts, the government’s firm stance may prove advantageous for them ahead of the legislative elections scheduled for April 10.
“If the government were to yield now, it would be seen as a significant setback before the upcoming general elections,” remarked Kim Jae-heon, the secretary-general of an NGO advocating free medical care, to AFP.
However, doctors “believe that retracting at this stage would work against their interests. It appears that the current standoff will persist for some time.”
Supporters of the reform argue that doctors are primarily concerned that the changes could diminish their salaries and social status.
The government contends that South Korea has one of the lowest doctor-to-patient ratios among developed nations.
Polling indicates that up to 75 percent of the public endorse the reforms, and President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has taken a tough stance on the striking doctors, has witnessed a boost in his approval ratings.
The widespread work stoppage has led to the cancellation and postponement of surgeries for cancer patients and cesarean sections for pregnant women, prompting the government to elevate its public health alert to the highest level.
Kim Tae-hyeon, the head of the Korean ALS Association, characterized the striking doctors as “worse than organized criminals.”
“In hospital wards and intensive care units, (patients) are struggling to stay alive,” he added.