South Korea Warns Striking Doctors to Return or Face Punishment

2024-02-27

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  • South Korea's government has warned young doctors to return to work before February 29 or face possible punishments.
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  • About 9,000 young doctors started walking off the job early last week to protest a government plan to increase the number of students accepted to medical schools.
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  • The doctors are in the early part of their careers.
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  • They are known as residents or interns.
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  • These young professionals generally assist or observe more experienced doctors in their work.
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  • The government wants to expand the yearly number of new medical student admissions by 2,000.
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  • The plan also offers incentives to doctors if they specialize in areas facing shortages, such as doctors who treat children or work in emergency rooms.
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  • Officials have said the plan is necessary to serve South Korea's aging population.
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  • The country's current doctor-to-patient ratio is among the lowest in the developed world.
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  • But the striking doctors say the nation's universities are unprepared to deal with additional students.
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  • They have also said the change would not solve doctor shortages in some areas of the profession.
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  • Under South Korean law, the government can order doctors and other medical workers back to work if there is a major risk to public health.
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  • Refusal to obey such an order can result in the suspension of licenses and up to three years in prison or a $22,480 fine.
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  • Those who receive prison sentences would have their medical licenses canceled.
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  • South Korea's Vice Health Minister, Park Min-soo, told reporters Monday the government would not seek any punishments against striking doctors who returned by February 29.
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  • "If they return to the hospitals they had left by then, we won't hold them responsible" for any damage caused, Park said.
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  • He added, "It's not too late. Please, return to patients immediately."
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  • The government said those who do not return to work by the end of the month could be punished with at least a three-month suspension of their medical licenses.
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  • Doctors who continue to strike could also face additional legal steps and possible court trials.
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  • Hyeondeok Choi is a partner at the law firm Daeryun, which specializes in medical law.
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  • He told the Associated Press it would be highly unlikely the government would suspend the licenses of all striking doctors because of the possible harm that could cause.
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  • Some industry observers said a more likely action would be for the government to only punish strike leaders.
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  • The AP reports there are about 13,000 medical interns and residents working in South Korea.
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  • These workers represent about 30 to 40 percent of all the doctors at some major hospitals.
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  • Earlier this month, the government announced it would permit universities to admit 2,000 more medical students starting next year.
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  • Officials say the plan calls for adding up to 10,000 new doctors by 2035.
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  • Public opinion studies have shown that about 80 percent of South Koreans support the government's plan.
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  • But striking doctors have said they worry that doctors facing increased competition could start treating patients for conditions they do not have.
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  • This, they added, could put new financial pressures on the country's medical system, which would have to pay for the additional costs.
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  • Critics have noted doctors currently receive one of the highest pay rates of any workers in South Korea.
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  • They argue that increasing numbers creates greater competition and can lower doctor incomes.
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  • Vice Health Minister Park said the country's services for emergency and critical patients remain stable.
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  • He noted that public hospitals had extended their working hours and military hospitals were opening their emergency rooms to civilian patients.
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  • I'm Bryan Lynn.