South Korea is taking swift action to address the pay and working conditions for young doctors, the government announced on Friday. This move comes in response to the protests and walkouts by medical trainees, who have been demanding better treatment. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo acknowledged that the current practice of making young doctors work 36 hours straight has contributed to their discontent and must be changed.
Han stated that a trial will be initiated promptly, with consideration given to limiting the continuous work period for resident doctors and interns to 24 hours. Additionally, starting this month, trainee doctors in paediatrics will receive a monthly allowance of 1 million won ($757), with similar payments planned for trainees in other specializations like emergency medicine and general surgery. The government will allocate additional budget for this purpose.
Over 10,000 medical interns and resident doctors are protesting a government proposal to increase medical school admissions by 2,000 per year to address a projected doctor shortage in the rapidly ageing population. President Yoon Suk Yeol has put forth a series of medical reform plans and taken a firm stance against the protesters, including threatening to suspend their medical licenses for defying orders to return to work.
While acknowledging that the protests have caused disruptions in major hospitals where trainee doctors play an important role, Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo emphasized that the situation has stabilized, partly due to the efforts of other medical professionals who have taken on additional responsibilities. He dismissed claims of a healthcare crisis as exaggerated.
In response to the ongoing situation, the government has granted nurses the authority to perform certain procedures that were previously restricted to doctors, such as CPR and administering certain medications. A national nurses’ association has expressed support for the government’s plans to clarify their roles and certify physician assistants to handle tasks beyond traditional nursing duties.
The government, along with law enforcement, will investigate reports of striking doctors allegedly harassing their colleagues who have chosen to continue working or have returned to their duties. Han indicated that such behavior will not be tolerated.
Overall, the government is taking steps to address the concerns raised by the medical trainees and improve the working conditions in the healthcare sector. By making changes to the training programs and offering financial incentives, they aim to ease the tensions and ensure the smooth functioning of the healthcare system.
It remains to be seen how these measures will be implemented and whether they will effectively address the grievances of the young doctors. The government’s willingness to negotiate and make adjustments signals a potential resolution to the ongoing dispute, which has garnered significant attention both domestically and internationally.
As the situation continues to evolve, all parties involved will need to work together to find a sustainable solution that prioritizes the well-being of medical professionals while also meeting the healthcare needs of the population. The government’s commitment to reform and address the demands of the protesting doctors reflects a proactive approach to resolving the crisis and ensuring the quality of healthcare services in South Korea.
($1=1,319.5400 won)
(Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
