South Korea to suspend licenses of trainee doctors who defy regulations starting next week

Seoul, March 21 (IANS) South Korea’s health ministry announced that it would start suspending the medical licenses of trainee doctors who have continued a month-long walkout in protest of the government’s plan to increase medical school enrollment. The ministry sent notices to 5,000 trainee doctors, who must respond by next Monday.

The walkout by trainee doctors escalated as the government allocated an additional 2,000 medical school admission seats. Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo stated, “Starting next week, the government will take measures to suspend the license under the principle regarding violation of the return-to-work order,” while urging the doctors to return to their training hospitals for the sake of patients and their careers.

About 90% of the 13,000 interns and resident doctors have been off the job since February 20, leading to the cancellation or delay of surgeries and essential public health services. Park also warned that interns not registered in the training management system of hospitals by the end of the month will not be eligible to become residents next year, impacting their careers.

The government’s initiative to increase the number of medical students aims to address the country’s aging population and physician shortages in rural and essential areas. However, doctors argue that quota hikes will lower the quality of medical education and increase medical costs for patients. They demand measures to address underpaid specialists and enhance legal protection against excessive malpractice lawsuits.