Seoul's largest hospitals are closing inpatient wards to cut operating costs, mainly due to snowballing debt caused by reducing medical appointments amid junior doctors’ walkout.
The country’s largest doctors’ group elected a new leader who urged President Yoon Suk Yeol to “directly participate in talks with junior doctors to convince them to return.”
The government has invited such fierce backlash because it pushed ahead with the enrollment increase while leaving out essential details.
President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday promised to make a “bold investment” in the medical sector, giving it the same weight as national security, amid an escalating standoff with doctors.
The government may have hiked medical school admissions by 2,000 seats nationwide, but Seoul-based schools will see no change in their admissions.
The government will shelve the execution of license suspensions against junior doctors, which was slated to be effective starting Tuesday.
The medical community and the government must have dialogue now.
Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong on Monday “welcomed” a medical professors’ group's position, saying they are “ready to have constructive dialogue with the government.”
The ongoing medical crisis is heading into unknown territory as trainee doctors will lose their licenses if they don’t present the government with convincing reasons by Monday for their months-long walkout.
Korea JoongAng Daily Sitemap