Seoul, South Korea—In response to a nationwide doctors’ strike, South Korea has declared a special emergency medical response period for two weeks in September, mobilizing all available resources to maintain essential health services. The announcement comes as thousands of trainee doctors protest government plans to increase medical student numbers, intensifying strains on the country’s healthcare system.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo addressed the nation in a televised briefing on Thursday, emphasizing the government’s commitment to ensuring uninterrupted medical care during the strike. “We will utilize every resource available to safeguard the health of our citizens,” Han stated. “To acknowledge the dedication of medical professionals even a little, we will temporarily raise the fees doctors receive from health insurance around the national holiday period next week.”
The emergency measures include a 3.5-fold increase in examination fees for specialist doctors at regional emergency medical centers, which are pivotal in treating severe emergency patients. The government aims to encourage doctors to work extended hours during Chuseok, one of South Korea’s most significant holidays.
The Health Ministry has already deployed military doctors to assist in hospital emergency rooms facing staff shortages. While some physicians have warned of a healthcare system on the brink of collapse, the government disputes this, assuring the public that the situation is under control. “Many of the remaining medical professionals are experiencing fatigue,” Prime Minister Han acknowledged. “However, we are by no means in a situation where we have to worry about medical collapse.”
The strike began in February, with thousands of interns and resident doctors walking off the job to protest a government proposal to increase medical student admissions by 2,000 annually. The government argues that the increase is necessary to address a projected severe shortage of doctors in the future.
Hospitals reliant on trainee doctors across multiple disciplines have been forced to turn away emergency room patients due to the staffing crisis. Existing doctors are facing heavier workloads, further exacerbating the strain on the healthcare system.
In preparation for the upcoming holiday, the government announced that approximately 8,000 medical clinics and hospitals will remain open nationwide each day during next week’s Chuseok celebrations. This figure is a significant increase compared to the 3,600 clinics and hospitals that were open daily during Lunar New Year holidays earlier this year.
The government is urging an end to the strike, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between medical professionals and authorities to navigate the current challenges. “We call upon all medical staff to join us in prioritizing the health and safety of our people,” Han appealed.
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South Korea declares emergency medical response amid doctors' strike
cgtn.com
