SEOUL: The medical licenses of two doctors in South Korea have been suspended, marking the first disciplinary measure taken in response to a month-long strike that has disrupted healthcare services, the Korean Medical Association said on Tuesday.
On February 20, thousands of junior doctors went on strike to protest government reforms aimed at increasing the number of medics to end shortages and deal with a growing aging population. The strike has resulted in the cancellation of vital treatments and surgeries, such as chemotherapy and C-sections, causing healthcare chaos across the country.
Despite repeated calls from the government for doctors to return to their duties, the standoff has escalated, with senior doctors now considering joining the strike and no meaningful negotiations taking place.
Two officials from the Korean Medical Association, involved in staging the strike, were notified on Monday of the suspension of their licenses for three months, for their alleged role in instigating the protest.
A spokesperson for the association criticized the government’s actions, accusing it of employing “intimidation tactics” and lamenting the suspension as a move towards authoritarianism. Under South Korean law, doctors are prohibited from striking, and the government has initiated investigations into individuals associated with the strike.
South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol reiterated the necessity of the reforms, emphasizing that the proposed changes aim to enhance essential medical care, particularly in regions outside the capital where access to healthcare is limited due to the concentration of doctors in urban areas.
Despite broad public support for the reform plan, a new poll suggests that a significant portion of the population desires negotiations to resolve the standoff, reflecting the complexity of the situation.
—AFP/APP
