South Korea strives to ensure no major disruptions at medical facilities

Information from the Korean Ministry of Health said that the number of public health facilities that informed each local government in advance that they would close on June 18 accounted for only about 4% of the total 36,371 facilities.

Thành viên từ các tổ chức của bệnh nhân nguy kịch trong cuộc họp báo trước Bệnh viện Đại học Quốc gia Seoul, Hàn Quốc, kêu gọi đình chỉ kế hoạch đình công của các giáo sư y khoa, ngày 12/6. — Members from organizations of critically ill patients call for a suspension of a planned strike by medical professors during a press conference in front of Seoul National University Hospital in South Korea, June 12.

On June 18, when the Korean Medical Association (KMA) called for a nationwide medical strike, the situation at private hospitals and clinics in Korea seemed to have not had many major disturbances.

Earlier, on June 17, about 55% of the total medical professors at four major hospitals affiliated with Seoul National University began an indefinite strike, raising concerns about the operation of public health services.

However, in university hospitals, there are some professors taking leave in groups, but for the most part the situation continues as usual.

Specifically, Chonbuk National University Hospital said that about 10% of its 250 professors had requested leave and they had all notified the hospital to adjust their medical examination and treatment schedules.

Pusan National University Hospital has about 10 doctors on leave. Ulsan University Hospital, although the outpatient schedule has been adjusted due to the doctor's absence, is still crowded with patients as usual.

The South Korean Ministry of Health has issued a notice stating that it is illegal to cancel medical appointments without permission, while the Ministry of Education has sent a telegram to medical schools and announced a ban on mass absenteeism.

The Ministry of Education's dispatch clearly states that violations may be subject to disciplinary action depending on the severity. Along with that, the Ministry of Health requires private clinics that want to stop providing medical services to notify local authorities.

According to Yonhap news agency, on June 18, South Korean Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong said the government had asked community doctors who planned to strike on the same day to return to work, warning of legal consequences if they did not comply.

Minister Cho affirmed that if the strike causes medical facilities to stop operating, the ministry will conduct an investigation and take administrative sanctions, including suspending practice licenses in accordance with the law.

South Korea's medical stress began in February 2024 after the government announced plans to increase the medical school enrollment quota by 2,000 people starting from the 2025 academic year.

Since February this year, more than 12,000 South Korean medical residents and interns have not gone to hospitals to protest the government's plan to increase medical student enrollment quotas, causing a severe medical crisis in the country.

Despite a wave of resignations by trainee doctors and protests from medical professors and many medical associations, the South Korean government completed the increase in medical school enrollment, but adjusted the increase down to 1,500 people late last month in an effort to reconcile differences.

However, the medical community continued to increase pressure and called for a general strike on June 18, calling on community doctors and private medical facilities to join.

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