Highlights: South Korea: the government raises its tone in the face of the massive strike of young doctors. The social movement in opposition to the increase in the number of students in medical schools is not weakening. The authorities announced, this Monday, March 11, that they had sent a suspension order to nearly 5,000 young doctors, while promising clemency to those who agree to return to work. More than 150 military doctors and public health officials were mobilized to try to limit postponements of operations and urgent procedures.

In South Korea, the government is toughening its tone in the face of the strike and massive resignations of young doctors. The social movement in opposition to the increase in the number of students in faculties…

South Korea: the government raises its tone in the face of the massive strike of young doctors

In South Korea, the government is toughening its tone in the face of the strike and massive resignations of young doctors.

The social movement in opposition to the increase in the number of students in medical schools is not weakening.

The authorities therefore announced, this Monday, March 11, that they had sent a suspension order to nearly 5,000 young doctors.

While promising clemency to those who agree to return to work.

In a hospital in Busan, South Korea, February 21, 2024 (illustrative image).

REUTERS - KIM HONG-JI

By: RFI Follow

Faced with an intensifying hospital crisis, the

South Korean

government is using carrots and sticks, writes our correspondent in Seoul,

Nicolas Rocca

Jun Byung-wang, Deputy Minister of Health, announced this Monday, March 11, that the threats of suspension of resigning doctors have been carried out: “

The government is gradually sending suspension notices to doctors who have violated the order of back-to-work.
As of March 8, 4,944 people had been notified.

“

Unacceptable
”

The doctors concerned have until March 25 to provide a response.

This Sunday, the Minister of Health and Social Affairs, Cho Kyoo-hong targeted the strikers who, according to him, are preventing their colleagues from returning to the hospital: “

It is absolutely unacceptable to attack those who work day and night on the ground and force them to participate in collective action.

At the same time, the authorities guarantee clemency to those who agree to return to work before the end of the administrative procedures for suspending doctors.

A leniency which can be explained by the government's dismay in the face of the hospital crisis.

This Monday, more than 150 military doctors and public health officials were mobilized to try to limit the postponements of operations and urgent procedures which have been accumulating for nearly three weeks in South Korean hospitals.

Essential

The strikers are protesting against a government project aimed at increasing the number of admissions to medical schools by 65% from next year, or around 2,000 people per year, writes AFP.

This is a measure considered essential to deal with the shortage of health personnel and the aging of the population in South Korea.

For their part, doctors are fiercely opposed to the project, believing that admitting more students to medical faculties will result in a drop in the level of future practitioners, and that the quality of care will suffer.

But supporters of reform accuse them of being above all worried about seeing their income decrease and their social status deteriorate if competition increases.

South Korea: the government raises its tone in the face of the massive strike of young doctors

South Korea: the government raises its tone in the face of the massive strike of young doctors

“

Unacceptable
”

Essential

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South Korea: the government raises its tone in the face of the massive strike of young doctors

South Korea: the government raises its tone in the face of the massive strike of young doctors

“ Unacceptable ”

Essential

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“

Unacceptable
”