S.Korea bans mass leave by doctors at over 200 hospitals amid collective action

By Gizem Nisa Cebi

ISTANBUL (AA) — Authorities in South Korea on Friday clamped down on leave given to medical students at over 200 training hospitals, a move in response to protests by medics to a decision to increase the number of trainees.

Seoul-based Yonhap News reported that the country's Health Ministry issued directives to 221 training hospitals, instructing them to ban large-scale resignations and retain essential medical staff.

The order followed a decision by trainee doctors on Monday to submit "collective resignations" in protest against the South Korean government's proposed increase in medical students.

However, deputy Health Minister Park Min-soo insisted that the government will "protect the lives and health of the people by mobilizing all necessary resources."

He also warned against doctors' collective actions that threaten patient safety.

The South Korean government is concerned about a potential mass strike among doctors in response to the increase in the medical school enrollment quota by 2,000 next year, up from the current 3,058 seats.

The Health Ministry also reported that over 150 doctors from seven hospitals had submitted resignation letters as of Thursday midnight.