Major general hospitals in South Korea continued to report delays and cancellations of surgeries, as the mass resignations of trainee doctors and their departures from the medical field have been prolonged, with no signs of a solution in sight.

Despite growing calls for a solution from within the medical community, there have been no signs that attempts are being made to hold talks between the defiant trainee doctors and the government.

More than 90 percent of 13,000 medical interns and residents have remained off their jobs through mass resignations for nearly three weeks in protest of the government’s decision to increase medical school enrollment by 2,000 next year.

The government has taken steps to suspend the medical licenses of striking trainee doctors, urging them to return to work.

Since Tuesday, the government has been sending out documents to trainee doctors who have yet to return to their jobs, giving prior notice on the suspension of their medical licenses.

The document includes details on t
he government’s back-to-work order and warns that those who do not submit feedback by March 25 could have their licenses suspended in accordance with relevant procedures.

Trainee doctors can file administrative complaints against the government in the event their licenses are suspended.

The government’s hawkish stance to punish striking trainee doctors seemed to encourage some professors at medical schools to leave their jobs and join the collective action by younger doctors.

Some professors have already tendered their resignations in protest against their universities’ decision to accept the government’s plan to expand the medical school enrollment.

A group of medical professors had a meeting Saturday to discuss ways to break the deadlock but failed to reach a conclusion.

To make up for the shortage of medical staff, moreover, health authorities began formally allowing nurses at major hospitals to perform CPR and administer medication to emergency patients.

With emergency units at military hospitals op
ened to the public, the health ministry launched a pilot program late last month, enabling nurses to undertake specific responsibilities held by doctors in a restricted capacity.

The collective action by trainee doctors, who play a vital role in assisting senior doctors during surgeries and dealing with inpatients while training at major general hospitals, has resulted in widespread cancellations and delays in surgeries and emergency medical treatment at general hospitals nationwide.

Critics say the striking doctors oppose the government plan as they worry adding more doctors would result in tougher competition and lower income.

The Korean Medical Association (KMA), the country’s biggest lobby group for doctors, argues the government plan won’t fix fundamental problems in the medical system, including doctor shortages in fields seen as lower paying, as well as a high concentration of doctors in urban areas.

Source: Yonhap News Agency