In South Korea, the government recently directed over 1,000 young doctors to go back to work following numerous walkouts in objection to proposals aimed at boosting the number of physicians in the healthcare system.
Many junior doctors, totaling more than 6,000 interns and residents, had resigned on Monday, according to officials.
South Korea faces a challenge with one of the lowest ratios of doctors to patients among OECD countries, prompting the government’s initiative to expand medical school placements.
However, doctors are wary of potential heightened competition resulting from this move, as observed by experts.
Professor Soonman Kwon, a public health expert at Seoul National University, explained, “More doctors mean more competition and reduced income for them… that is why they are against the proposal to increase physician supply.”
Junior doctors are particularly opposed because they anticipate being most affected at the outset of their careers.
The South Korean Health Ministry reported that on Monday, 1,630 doctors did not report to work, and a broader cohort of 6,415 junior doctors had submitted resignation letters.
The strike was set to commence on Tuesday.
This action has raised significant concerns about the country’s healthcare system, with some hospitals already implementing emergency measures.
The planned walkout was orchestrated by 2,700 junior doctors, representing over a third of doctors on active duty at the top five hospitals in the country.
These doctors are crucial for staffing emergency wards.
There are apprehensions that this protest might spark a broader strike within the industry, as it has garnered support from prominent groups like the Korean Medical Residents Association and the Korean Intern Resident Association.
Despite already being among the world’s highest-paid, South Korean doctors are expressing discontent. OECD data from 2022 indicates that the average specialist at a public hospital earns nearly $200,000 (£159,000) annually.