28 Mar 2024 | 05:56 AM UTC
South Korea: Disruptions to medical services will likely persist nationwide through at least late April as doctors continue indefinite strike /update 4
Disruptions to medical services in South Korea likely to persist through late April due to doctors' strike. Confirm appointments.
Widespread disruptions to medical services, including emergency care and surgical procedures, will likely persist nationwide through at least late April. The disruptions began after doctors began their indefinite strike on Feb. 20. As of March 28, more than 90 percent of South Korea's 13,000 junior doctors have joined the work stoppage. The purpose of the action is to protest the increase of the medical school enrollment quota. Several major hospitals, including Ansan Medical Center and Seoul National University Hospital, have reduced outpatient services or operation capacities by temporarily shutting down or integrating different hospital wards. Medical school professors from 40 university hospitals across the country voluntarily resigned March 25, and will reduce their working hours and minimize consultation hours for outpatients from April 1. The government has deployed 200 additional military and public health doctors to affected hospitals March 25. The newly elected president of the Korean Medical Association (KMA) raised the possibility of a general strike if authorities move to suspend licenses on medical residents. The work stoppage will almost certainly continue until officials agree to their demands. Organizers may withdraw the strike at short notice if negotiations with authorities are successful.
The KMA previously staged large-scale rallies in Seoul, which saw at least 12,000 participants. Unannounced and additional solidarity protests that may attract several hundred doctors are likely across the country in the coming weeks. Demonstrations typically occur outside Yongsan Presidential Office in Seoul, regional hospitals, union offices, and/or government buildings, including the National Assembly and offices of the opposition Democratic Party of Korea, mainly in and around Seoul.
Heightened security and localized transport disruption are likely around related protests. Officials may erect security barricades around government buildings. Police may deploy to ensure that participants do not cause traffic congestion beyond the protest site. While rallies will likely be peaceful, skirmishes between demonstrators and security personnel remain possible. Localized transport and business disruptions could occur near any protest venue, especially if demonstrators block roadways.
Confirm medical appointments over the coming weeks. Plan for medical service delays. If possible, contact healthcare facilities in advance for information about wait times, which could vary among hospitals and clinics. Avoid protests as a precaution. Plan for possible localized transport disruptions near rally sites. Allow additional time for travel to nearby destinations. Use alternative routes to circumvent rally sites; do not navigate roadblocks as a safety precaution. Heed all local security and traffic advisories.
Resident and intern doctors have been participating in an indefinite strike since Feb. 20, triggered by the government's announcement to boost medical school admissions by 2,000 starting in 2025 from the current annual figure of 3,000, and eventually adding a further 10,000 by 2035. While the striking junior doctors represent less than 10% of South Korea’s 140,000 doctors, they account for approximately 40% of doctors in some major hospitals. Despite repeated calls by the government to resume work, through the issuance of return-to-work orders and threats to suspend the licenses of striking doctors, the majority have yet to return to work. Police are currently investigating several high-ranking officials from the Korea Medical Association accused of inciting and abetting the work stoppage.
Despite punitive measures by state authorities intended to put an end to the work stoppage, disruptions to medical services, including the cancellation of certain surgeries and delay of emergency treatments, are likely to persist in the coming weeks. Lingering disruptions will almost certainly occur even after the end of the work stoppage.
