Trainee doctors in South Korea have vowed to stay off the job in protest at government plans to increase medical school admissions to boost the healthcare sector.
The protests by almost two-thirds of the country’s young doctors, which began this week, has forced hospitals to turn away patients and cancel procedures, raising fears about further disruptions to the medical system should the dispute drag on.
President Yoon Suk Yeol had insisted that the actions of the trainees are illegal, submitting that the current permits a review in approach and pattern of training to prepare the nation in case of an outbreak or epidemic.
According to the health ministry, more than 8,400 doctors have joined the walkout, equivalent to about 64% of the entire resident and intern doctors, claiming an increase in admissions will compromise the quality of medical education.
