South Korean doctors on mass protest over medical training push, burden hospital operations

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As of Wednesday night, a total of 9,275 trainee doctors, or 74.4%, have submitted their resignations, while 8,024 of them have left their jobs, the news agency reported, citing Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo.  

The health ministry has received some 150 complaints related to the mass resignations, the official added.  

"The power of doctors does not come from collective action," Park was quoted as saying by Yonhap as telling reporters, calling on the trainees to return to their patients and urging the protesters to join negotiations with authorities.  

The work of operating rooms has been cut in half, while the number of surgeries has dropped by 50% at Severance Hospital in central Seoul and by 30% at St. Mary's Hospital and Asan Medical Centre, medical sources said. 

Over 6,110 doctors have been ordered to return to work and continue their services, but interns have ignored the government's order, Yonhap reported on Wednesday.

The Korean Intern Resident Association, which unites South Korean trainee doctors, has called the government's plan "ridiculous" and urged authorities to abandon it.

Original news source: https://www.uniindia.com/news/world/health-south-korea-hospitals/3148470.html#google_vignett