(PatriotPostNews.com) – South Korea is facing what the government has categorized as a “severe” health crisis after thousands of doctors in training participated in a walkout protest.
The major statement of opposition is being led by resident physicians and has reached its fourth day of demonstration against a controversy surrounding admissions into medical school.
According to the Health Ministry of the government of South Korea, nearly 8,000 doctors in training left their posts on the evening of February 23. The walk-outs occurred across 94 big hospitals and included almost 70% of the total number of trainee physicians.
The interruption in healthcare caused major delays in treatment and even cancelled surgeries that had been scheduled. A majority of the walk-outs work at the teaching hospitals, of which there are 100 throughout the country, serving in operating rooms and emergency rooms.
A meeting on February 24 about responding to the medical disaster revealed plans to expand the hours of operation at South Korean public hospitals as well as to hire temporary staff and permit both hospitals and other medical facilities to provide service to patients online.
Han Duck-soo, the prime minister of South Korea, criticized the walk-out during the meeting, saying that the protest “cannot be justified” because it “harm[s] the lives and health” of citizens. He emphasized the need to “quickly stabilize” the issue in order to “minimize damage.”
The protest started on February 20 and was sparked by a plan by the government to permit 2,000 new medical students into the quota for the education program, a move some fear would lower the quality of the training. There are currently about 3,000 available seats.
South Korea’s government has justified its plans by pointing to a significant shortage of physicians in less populated parts of the country. Data shows that there are 1.1 fewer doctors per 1,000 people in South Korea compared to the average in other nations. The country could reach a deficit of 15,000 medical professionals by 2035 without intervention.
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