"Number of Doctors Below OECD Average"... Call to Withdraw Collective Strike
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is speaking at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting for COVID-19 response held on the 12th at the Seoul Situation Center of the Central Disaster and Safety Situation Room in the Government Seoul Office Building. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@
[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun stated at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting on COVID-19 response held at the Government Seoul Office on the 12th, "The government will spare no effort in providing sufficient support so that the flood victims who have fallen into despair can regain hope," adding, "We will strengthen the 'disaster safety net' even more during the process of overcoming this flood damage."
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on the 12th, "The government will spare no effort in providing sufficient support so that the flood victims who have fallen into despair can regain hope." He also emphasized, "We will strengthen the 'disaster safety net' even more during the process of overcoming this flood damage."
At the CDSCH meeting on COVID-19 response held at the Government Seoul Office that day, Prime Minister Chung said, "Amid the difficulties caused by COVID-19, unprecedented long rainy seasons and heavy rains have caused massive damage across the country. I extend my deepest condolences to the citizens affected by the damage."
Regarding the doctors' association's planned collective strike on the 14th, Prime Minister Chung also said, "The government has already expressed its willingness to accept the formation of a consultative body proposed by the doctors' association and continues to knock on the door of dialogue with an open attitude to communicate with the medical community," urging, "I hope the doctors' association will come to the dialogue table as soon as possible and work together with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to pool wisdom."
Prime Minister Chung expressed concern, saying, "Since 2006, the number of medical school admissions has been frozen for nearly 15 years, and the number of doctors in our country falls far short of the average level of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Moreover, more than half of the doctors are concentrated in the metropolitan area, resulting in a significant medical gap between regions."
He continued, "The current expansion of medical school admissions is an urgent task to resolve the chronic imbalance in medical supply and demand and to expand the insufficient public healthcare," pointing out, "Collective actions that jeopardize the lives and safety of the people will hardly gain trust and support."
He then urged once again, "The doctors' association should withdraw the collective strike and engage in sincere dialogue with the government."
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