(3rd LD) Gov't scraps all administrative steps against striking trainee doctors

(ATTN: ADDS more comments, criticism, background info in paras 5-13)
By Oh Seok-min

SEOUL, July 8 (Yonhap) -- The government announced a decision Monday to withdraw its plan to take administrative steps, including the suspension of medical licenses, against striking trainee doctors in an effort to seek a breakthrough in monthslong medical service disruptions.

More than 12,000 trainee doctors, over 90 percent of the total, have been on strike in the form of mass resignations since Feb. 20 in protest of the government's medical school admissions quota hike, and most of them have rejected the state order to return to work.

"Starting today, the government decided not to seek administrative steps against any trainee doctors regardless of their returning to hospitals given the demand from the medical community and the health care situations," Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong told a press briefing after a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.

"The government will give special favors to returning junior doctors regarding their training, as well as to those who opt to apply again for training courses in September," Cho added.

A door to a space exclusive for trainee doctors remains closed at a major hospital in Seoul on July 7, 2024. (Yonhap)

The government had said it would suspend the medical licenses of the striking doctors and take other punitive, administrative steps for the collective action in accordance with law.

But the medical community has called for the withdrawal, saying such measures have rather worsened the situation as doctors are reluctant to return to work out of concerns that the move would lead to punishment against their defiant colleagues.

Officials later hinted at suspending, rather than canceling, such plans, but Cho made it clear that the government will accept the doctors' demand.

The decision, however, could spark criticism that it hurts the principle of fairness over the government's handling of labor actions as doctors are allowed to go unpunished despite illegal acts.

"It aims to minimize the medical service vacuum for seriously ill, emergency patients and to nurture professional doctors at a proper time to guarantee public interests," Cho said, asking training hospitals to finalize the number of vacancies by next Monday.

It is not immediately known how many of the striking doctors would return to work following the announcement.

Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong speaks during a press briefing in Seoul on July 8, 2024. (Yonhap)

For more fundamental solutions, the government vowed to push for reforming the manpower structure of major general hospitals by reducing their dependence on trainee doctors, and boosting the number and roles of professional doctors and physical assistance nurses.

By doing so, large hospitals will be able to better focus on providing treatment to emergency patients, and those who suffer from critical cases and rare diseases, according to the health ministry.

"The government will make utmost efforts to have dialogue with the medical community. Please join us for constructive discussions to advance the medical system," Cho said.

Doctors have also urged the government to revisit the quota hike decision, claiming that medical schools will not be able to handle the increased enrollment, which will compromise the quality of medical education and ultimately the country's medical services.

Despite strong opposition from doctors, the government finalized an admissions quota hike of some 1,500 students for medical schools for next year in an effort to address problems stemming from the shortage of doctors.