South Korean doctors reject government body to end health care crisis

By Anadolu staff

South Korean doctors on Friday rejected the government body to end the months-long health care crisis in the East Asian country.

A joint statement, issued by trainee doctors, the National Medical School Professors' Council and six other groups of doctors, said it is premature to take part in the body, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported.

"At a time when the government has maintained its stance, it is premature for us to take part in the consultative body," said Choi An-na, a spokesperson for the Korean Medical Association (KMA).

"If the government wants a dialogue, it should stop the probe regarding the mass resignation by trainee doctors and stop pushing for the quota hike plan for 2025," she said.

Earlier this month, the government and ruling People Power Party (PPP) proposed to form a consultative body to resolve the ongoing health crisis in the country.

However, the doctors demanded the government first withdraw its plan of raising the medical school admission quota to around 2,000 annually for the next five years or so.

On Friday, President Yoon Suk Yeol also visited two hospitals in the capital Seoul and said his government is pursuing health care reforms.

"The government is pursuing health care reform out of urgency, recognizing that the current system is unsustainable as doctors responsible for essential care are forced to endure excessive workloads," Yoon said.

The junior doctors' strike, which began in February, was initiated in protest against the government's plans to increase medical school admissions. The protest has resulted in widespread resignations of interns and doctors, causing staff shortages in hospitals across the country.

Last week, the Health Ministry responded by deploying military doctors and public physicians to understaffed emergency rooms but concerns remain about the long-term impact on patient care, particularly for those with critical illnesses.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid