Healthcare services face worsening disruptions as medical crisis deepens in South Korea

Seoul – In a recent development, an association of medical professors has urged the government to exclude Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo from making media responses to facilitate talks in the upcoming negotiations for medical reform. The request comes after Park rejected the medical community’s call for modifying the government’s plan to raise the medical school enrollment quota.

During a press briefing, Vice Health Minister Park stated that the government will not succumb to pressure from specific job groups and will proceed with medical reforms according to the rule of law. The council of medical school professors, led by Bang Jae-seung, emphasized the need for dialogue and requested Park to refrain from unilateral decision-making in the media.

Park faced criticism for using derogatory language towards doctors during a previous press briefing, attributing it to a slip of the tongue. The association of medical professors also suggested reducing work hours to focus on essential medical services amidst the ongoing strike by trainee doctors at major hospitals.

With over 90% of the country’s trainee doctors on strike since February 20, disruptions in medical services are expected to increase. The senior doctors at major hospitals have pledged to reduce their work hours to 52 per week, impacting surgeries and outpatient services. Their aim is to address the physical limitations faced while treating patients without time constraints.