Govt. set to complete sending 1st suspension notice to striking doctors

The South Korean government is expected to wrap up sending out the first notice of its plan to suspend the medical licenses of striking trainee doctors next week as part of its disciplinary action against them, sources said Saturday.

About 90 percent of 13,000 medical interns and residents have remained off their jobs through mass resignations for nearly three weeks in protest of the government's decision to increase medical school enrollment.

The government earlier ordered the striking doctors to return to work by Feb. 29. South Korea's medical law allows the government to make such an order to doctors when it sees grave risks to public health.

Under the law, doctors defying the return-to-work order can be punished with a suspension of their licenses for up to one year, and three years in prison or a 30 million-won ($22,500) fine.

On Saturday, the government reiterated its unwavering stance toward planned medical reforms.

On a local cable TV program, Sung Tae-yoon, director of national policy at the presidential office, said the government will stick with its plan to increase medical school admissions, while preparing measures to reduce major hospitals' reliance on trainee doctors in surgeries and treatments.

"The current medical system is being seriously affected by the junior doctors' walkouts. So it needs to be overhauled to have senior doctors, or physicians, and actual staff workers more responsible for medical treatments at major hospitals," he said.

The government plans to increase medical school enrollments by 2,000 starting in 2025, from the current 3,058, which authorities say is essential to brace for the country's fast-aging population, a shortage of physicians in rural areas and essential but low-paying specialties, like pediatrics and emergency departments.

It aims to fill an expected shortfall of 15,000 doctors by 2035.

In response, the Korean Medical Association, the country's biggest lobby group for doctors, argues the government plan won't fix fundamental problems in the medical system, including doctor shortages in fields seen as lower paying and a concentration of doctors in urban areas.

Since Tuesday, the government has been sending out documents to trainee doctors who have yet to return to their jobs, giving prior notice on the suspension of their medical licenses.

The document includes details on the government's back-to-work order and warns that those who do not submit feedback by March 25 could have their licenses suspended in accordance with relevant procedures.

Trainee doctors can file administrative complaints against the government in the event their licenses are suspended.

The collective action by trainee doctors, who play a vital role in assisting senior doctors during surgeries and dealing with inpatients while training at major general hospitals, has resulted in widespread cancellations and delays in surgeries and emergency medical treatment at general hospitals nationwide.

Critics say the striking doctors oppose the government plan to safeguard their salaries and social status.

South Korea's doctor-to-population ratio is one of the lowest among developed countries. The country has a population of about 51 million and 140,000 doctors. (Yonhap)