More than 12,000 South Korean doctors have gone on strike in a months-long protest against medical reforms. It may be the wrong position to take, but the government has much to account for too, say Erik Mobrand from Seoul National University and Hyejin Kim from National University of Singapore.
Members of The Korea Medical Association at a protest in Seoul on Jun 18, 2024. Since February, more than 12,000 doctors at over 100 hospitals have walked away from their jobs in protest over a government policy to increase medical school admissions. To see doctors walk off the job is a jarring image.
Regular public health checks are provided at no cost for citizens and long-term residents. The affordability of visiting the doctor and receiving basic prescription medicines also is a strength of the system.However, the population is ageing rapidly, sparking debate over whether the current number of doctors is sufficient.
According to the Korean Medical Association, doctors in South Korea face a higher risk of being sued by patients compared with other countries. It estimates that about 750 South Korean doctors annually, or an average of more than two per day - are criminally charged with professional negligence resulting in death or injuryThe doctors who have gone on strike are clearly in the wrong on the big picture of the country’s public health.
As for the medical profession, one concern is that medical schools do not have the capacity to accommodate a leap of 2,000 more students per year. Planning for admission enlargement proceeds. The education authorities have committed to raising the entrance quota for the coming year by 1,500.
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