South Korea Health Ministry Sends Notices to Suspend Licenses of 5000 Trainee Doctors

The South Korean health ministry has issued prior notices to suspend the medical licenses of approximately 5,000 trainee doctors who have refused to return to work and have been protesting against the government’s proposal to increase medical school admissions, according to a report by Yonhap News Agency.

Deputy Health Minister Jun Byung-wang stated that the ministry had completed sending notices to 4,944 junior doctors last week. These doctors are required to submit their opinions on punitive measures by March 25.

The government has vowed to take legal action against junior doctors making threats to their colleagues or impeding their return to hospitals. Additionally, a hotline will be opened on Tuesday for physicians wishing to return to work.

As of Friday, about 11,994 trainee doctors had left their worksites at 100 teaching hospitals, accounting for approximately 93% of all junior doctors, the ministry reported.

Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong stated that lenient measures would be taken if trainee doctors return to work before administrative procedures to suspend their licenses are completed.

Local hospitals have experienced cancellations and delays in surgeries and emergency medical treatment due to the absence of medical interns and residents who have not responded to the government’s call to return by the end of February.

To address the shortage of medical staff, the government has deployed 158 military and public health doctors to local hospitals for a four-week period. Last week, the health ministry also allowed nurses to perform some of the roles of doctors, including CPR.

The government has been pushing to increase physician numbers to resolve the shortage of doctors in rural areas and essential medical fields. However, doctors have expressed concerns that quota hikes will undermine the quality of medical education and services and result in higher medical costs for patients.

Thousands of doctors protested in Seoul last week against the government’s proposal to increase medical school admissions, highlighting broader concerns regarding insufficient support for the nation’s healthcare system. The protesting doctors called for addressing various challenges facing the healthcare system, including specific field staffing, government remuneration for essential medical treatments, and the establishment of infrastructure to support the education of a growing number of medical students.