The medical sector in Korea is facing a crisis as more and more professors and senior doctors are resigning or reducing their working hours. This has led to concerns among patients who feel like they may be left in a “hostage” situation. Kim, the mother of a 27-month-old patient with kidney disease, expressed her worry as the pediatricians treating her daughter at Seoul National University Hospital plan to resign in May. This has forced parents to seek alternative hospitals for their children’s treatment, causing added stress and financial burden.
Since the strike of resident and intern doctors in February to protest the decision to increase medical student enrollment quotas, the situation has escalated. Medical professors and senior doctors in top hospitals like Seoul National University School of Medicine and Ulsan University have decided to reduce their working hours or take one day off each week. This has affected patient care and led to rescheduled treatments and surgeries.
The strike has impacted over 9,000 resident doctors who play a crucial role in patient care. The government’s decision to increase medical student quotas is being protested by the striking doctors, who call for better income and working conditions for medical staff. The crisis has spread to medical students and professors, leading to further unrest in the medical sector.
Despite the government’s conciliatory moves to address some concerns, the situation remains tense as both sides advocate for their interests. Patients and their families are caught in the middle, facing uncertainty and disruptions in their medical care. The future of healthcare in Korea hangs in the balance as the standoff between doctors and the government continues to unfold.