"Medical School Expansion Confirmed, Justification for Collective Action Disappears"
Government to Announce Administrative Measures This Afternoon
The Presidential Office has decided to withdraw the order prohibiting the acceptance of resident doctors' resignation letters at each training hospital, following requests from the medical community. Since the order banning the acceptance of resignation letters has been an obstacle for resident doctors who left the field to return, the plan is to lift this order and allow them to return as trainees.
A Presidential Office official told Asia Economy on the 4th, "With the confirmation of medical school enrollment expansion, the justification for collective action by resident doctors and the medical community has disappeared," adding, "Since the expansion has already been decided and the collective resignation situation of resident doctors cannot be prolonged any further." On the same day afternoon, the Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to hold a 'Medical Reform Related Current Issues Briefing' at the Government Seoul Office and announce specific measures to encourage the return of resident doctors.
The Presidential Office official predicted, "It has been over three months since resident doctors submitted their resignation letters and left hospitals as of February 20," and added, "It will be difficult for the prolonged collective action to continue any longer."
Accordingly, the government intends to withdraw the order prohibiting the acceptance of resident doctors' resignation letters at training hospitals, allowing those who wish to return to resume training, and for those who do not wish to return, to seek employment at hospitals or clinics. The government will also disclose plans this afternoon regarding administrative measures such as license suspension for resident doctors. Currently, there is a strong inclination toward issuing administrative sanctions like license suspension but postponing the enforcement of such suspensions.
The Presidential Office official strongly hinted that there will be clear differences between those who return and those who do not regarding administrative sanctions. The official said, "There may be resident doctors who want to return but cannot due to fear of stigma," and added, "Since recruitment for resident doctors in the second half of the year will begin soon, the plan is to support voluntary return as much as possible while including flexibility in the afternoon's measures concerning post-return treatment, such as reducing working hours to improve resident doctors' work environment and providing financial support for resident training."
However, opposition from the medical community remains strong. The Emergency Committee of Professors at Seoul National University College of Medicine and Seoul National University Hospital held a general meeting with all professors participating this afternoon to conduct a vote on a general strike, and the Korean Medical Association also announced a vote on a general strike for this week.
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