SoKor urges trainee doctors to swiftly decide return to hospitals

SEOUL – Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong on Tuesday called for trainee doctors to swiftly make their decision on whether or not to return to hospitals, as most of them have shown little sign of returning despite the government's appeasement steps.

About 12,000 trainee doctors have left their worksites since late February in protest of the government's plan to hike the number of medical students.

With the government finalizing the plan to increase the number of medical students by some 1,500 next year, the government has offered steps to appease trainee doctors.

However, most trainee doctors have been unresponsive to the government's appeasement measures.

"We urge trainee doctors to decide on their return as soon as possible," Cho told a government response meeting, noting that hospitals need to begin the recruitment process for new trainees starting their training in September.

The government has been urging trainee doctors to return to their workplaces and has also asked hospitals to promptly accept the resignations of those not returning.

Previously, authorities had directed hospitals not to accept these resignations to prevent the doctors from seeking employment at other clinics.

Cho also said that blacklisting junior doctors returning to hospitals is "unacceptable" and has requested a police investigation into the matter.

The remark came after a list of junior doctors returning to hospitals following their walkout was circulated last week on an online community exclusive to doctors.

"It is a deeply concerning act that disrupts individuals' decision-making and forces collective action," Cho said. "We have promptly requested a police investigation into the matter. Such illegal activities are intolerable, and we intend to respond sternly."

Cho expressed regret over medical professors, who serve as senior doctors at hospitals affiliated with Korea University and Chungbuk National University, announcing walkouts scheduled for this month.

"We trust most of the professors will fulfill their duty as doctors to protect the lives of people," Cho added.

On the previous day, medical professors at Korea University announced a walkout starting July 12, excluding the operation of emergency rooms and intensive care units.

Those at Chungbuk National University vowed to start an indefinite walkout starting July 26.

Efforts for talks between the government and the medical community, meanwhile, continue to show little progress as trainee doctors and medical students have boycotted a committee launched last month as the representative body.

"We positively evaluate the efforts made by the medical community to gather opinions," Cho added. (PNA)