Residents and interns at hospitals nationwide go on indefinite strike
Arirang News
2020-08-21
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오늘부터 전공의 순차 파업 시작…"수술 40% 줄어들 수도"
Interns and residents at hospitals across South Korea have gone on strike again over the government's healthcare reform plans.
But unlike previous strikes, this one is set to go on indefinitely.
Kim Do-yeon reports.
Starting 7 AM on Friday, interns and residents went on strike in response to the government's planned healthcare reforms.
This is the third strike action by the residents as they had already downed tools on the past two Fridays.
And this strike is set to go on for longer.
Interns, residents in emergency medicine, and fourth year residents will go on strike from Friday.
They will be joined by third year residents on Saturday, with first and second year residents also joining the strike on Sunday.
The strike will then go on indefinitely.
Large university hospitals that conduct lots of major surgeries will be most affected by the strike.
At Asan Medical Center, in southern Seoul, one-third of the doctors are residents, so if they're on strike, then the center won't be able to conduct as many advanced procedures.
In addition, some COVID-19 testing sites have residents on-site, but due to the strike, the sites might have to be downsized.
This week, the medical association met with the government but didn't get any closer to an agreement.
The doctors oppose four key parts of the government's reform plans expanding the medical student quota, the establishment of public medical schools, the coverage of Korean traditional medicine by insurance, and the increase in online, non-contact medical services.
The Prime Minister shared his concerns.
"It's too bad that doctors who should be protecting citizens are going into this action when COVID-19 cases are on the rise again. What the people want is for the country to come together and fight against the pandemic."
In addition to the residents' strike, more than 90 percent of medical students up for the license exam have canceled their registration in protest... the Korean Medical Association is also looking to hold a strike on August 26th.
Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News
Interns and residents at hospitals across South Korea have gone on strike again over the government's healthcare reform plans.
But unlike previous strikes, this one is set to go on indefinitely.
Kim Do-yeon reports.
Starting 7 AM on Friday, interns and residents went on strike in response to the government's planned healthcare reforms.
This is the third strike action by the residents as they had already downed tools on the past two Fridays.
And this strike is set to go on for longer.
Interns, residents in emergency medicine, and fourth year residents will go on strike from Friday.
They will be joined by third year residents on Saturday, with first and second year residents also joining the strike on Sunday.
The strike will then go on indefinitely.
Large university hospitals that conduct lots of major surgeries will be most affected by the strike.
At Asan Medical Center, in southern Seoul, one-third of the doctors are residents, so if they're on strike, then the center won't be able to conduct as many advanced procedures.
In addition, some COVID-19 testing sites have residents on-site, but due to the strike, the sites might have to be downsized.
This week, the medical association met with the government but didn't get any closer to an agreement.
The doctors oppose four key parts of the government's reform plans expanding the medical student quota, the establishment of public medical schools, the coverage of Korean traditional medicine by insurance, and the increase in online, non-contact medical services.
The Prime Minister shared his concerns.
"It's too bad that doctors who should be protecting citizens are going into this action when COVID-19 cases are on the rise again. What the people want is for the country to come together and fight against the pandemic."
In addition to the residents' strike, more than 90 percent of medical students up for the license exam have canceled their registration in protest... the Korean Medical Association is also looking to hold a strike on August 26th.
Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News
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