the government threatens to suspend nearly 5,000 striking doctors

The South Korean government is facing a real political fiasco. A reform intended to counter the shortage of doctors caused a major strike in a suffering profession. Nearly 5,000 doctors are even threatened with temporary suspensions if they do not return to work.

Monday March 11 in the morning, 93% of interns were not at their posts in hospitals. The strike movement, which began on February 20, of course caused the cessation of numerous treatments and the postponement of surgical operations for patients.

Faced with this situation, the Ministry of Health has just initiated a three-month suspension procedure against some of the demonstrators. Currently, there are 12,000 doctors firmly opposed to a reform, which wants to increase the number of medical students. If this project is essential for the government, it is unacceptable for practicing doctors.

An ineffective and harmful reform according to the strikers

It is an authentic political fiasco, since this reform is above all intended to avoid the shortage of doctors in the country. However, although this strike is very unpopular in the country, the government is unable to push this project through because it comes up against another reality, that of active doctors, poorly paid and overworked. The government’s reform plans to open 2,000 additional places in medical faculties from 2025. But above all, these doctors fear that this reform will not fill the shortage of caregivers in the countryside while threatening their income.

The majority of young graduates have no intention of leaving the city and this reform, according to them, will only increase competition between doctors. In a health system managed 90% by private groups, having more doctors risks leading to more competitiveness, with the possibility of driving prices down, as with any commodity. This is the general feeling of the strikers, like this young psychiatric intern: “The government gives the impression of treating doctors like objects. Things that can be moved anywhere, anytime, depending on desires and political orientations. I would like this government to respect a little more doctors’ rights.”

An urgent reform, carried out unilaterally

Doctors are indeed demanding the right to be consulted and to be informed about the details of the reform. The government wanted to act quickly, unilaterally. Faced with protests, Korean police searched the headquarters of the association behind the movement. The authorities are now threatening to suspend almost half of the demonstrators, “essential personnel” who is prohibited from striking in Korea.

The government is thus far from its initial objective; the lack of doctors is today filled by soldiers requisitioned to ensure that the system does not collapse. Currently, South Korea has a little less than 3 doctors, 2.6 exactly, per 1,000 inhabitants, while the rest of the OECD countries are at 3.7. The population is aging and rural areas are already completely deserted by health professionals. But, despite the urgency of the situation, although 75% of Koreans are in favor of reform, the government is unable to calm the anger of the demonstrators who have come to abandon their posts. In the end, the Ministry of Health has just sent a first letter to 4,900 striking doctors, threatening them if they do not end their strike.