South Korea Doctors Strike: PM again urges medical professors to stay with patients

Seoul: South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo made a heartfelt plea to medical professors on Friday, urging them to remain steadfast in their commitment to their patients and workplaces amidst considerations of taking weekly breaks in solidarity with junior doctors currently on strike.

Since February 20, the nation has witnessed approximately 13,000 trainee doctors engaging in a mass resignation protest against the government's decision to significantly augment the medical school enrollment quota. 

In solidarity with medical interns and residents, medical professors at major general hospitals nationwide have joined the movement, reports Yonhap news agency.

"I earnestly implore the professors. Please continue to stand by the patients as you have done so far, and please persuade your students to return now," Han said during a meeting with government officials, reports news agency IANS.

Despite the government's gesture, more professors have joined the move to offer resignations, even considering the potential suspension of all surgeries and treatments for outpatients once a week.  

Han said the government and the people would listen more attentively to the voices of doctors and would accept them more seriously if they returned to hospitals.  

According to the decision, 32 universities will be permitted to increase their admission quotas freely, with the annual increase ranging between 50 per cent and 100 per cent, starting in 2025, a turnaround from the previous decision to add 2,000 more medical school admissions in total.  

Medical Dialogues team recently reporetd that in a move to end prolonged walkouts by junior doctors in response to the South Korean's government decision to increase total medical school admissions by 2,000, starting next year. The government is likely to accept a request made by the chiefs of six national universities to lower their medical school enrolment quotas for next year, officials said.