Doctors resign in South Korea: They do not want more doctors to be hired

12PUNTO FOREIGN NEWS

Doctors in South Korea are protesting plans to increase the number of healthcare workers and physicians in the country. While more than 6,000 healthcare workers resigned on Monday, the South Korean government is seeking ways to cope with the crisis. Having decided to appoint more than 1,000 intern doctors to full-time positions as a first solution, the government does not want to abandon its new hiring plan.

South Korea is one of the countries with the lowest doctor-to-patient ratio among OECD nations. There are 2.5 doctors for every 1,000 people in the country. Furthermore, approximately 90% of healthcare facilities in the country are private institutions. This situation creates problems regarding the quality and accessibility of healthcare services in the country. Issues such as long waiting times in hospitals, difficulties for patients in accessing healthcare services, and low-income individuals being unable to receive quality healthcare are considered indicators that the country's healthcare system is on shaky ground.

The South Korean government had decided to increase medical school quotas to solve this problem. On the other hand, doctors were opposing this decision. After the government announced that it would not change the plan, ignoring the doctors' demands, more than 6,000 doctors in South Korea submitted their resignations this Monday.

ARE THEY AVOIDING COMPETITION?

According to a report by the BBC, the main reason for the doctors' action is that they are 'avoiding competition.' In an interview featured on the BBC, Prof. Soonman Kwon, a public health expert at Seoul National University, said, "More doctors mean more competition and less income for them... that is why they are opposing the proposal to increase the supply of doctors."

South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo issued a statement describing the action as 'a mistake that holds people's lives and health hostage.'

The burden on the healthcare system is expected to increase further due to the rapidly aging population in South Korea. According to calculations by the South Korean state, there will be a shortage of 15,000 healthcare personnel in the country by 2035.

News Source: 12punto