SEOUL, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo pledged active dialogue with the medical community Tuesday to find a negotiated settlement to the protracted walkout by trainee doctors protesting the government’s decision to significantly increase medical school admissions.

Han made the remarks during a meeting with representatives of the medical community, including presidents of major universities and leading teaching hospitals across the country, held at Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul.

“The government is committed to active dialogue and efforts to put heads together with regard to medical reforms,” Han said at the start of the meeting. “I hope today’s meeting will lead to the establishment of a dialogue mechanism.”

The meeting took place as medical professors at major general hospitals nationwide began submitting mass resignations in support of medical interns and residents who have been on strike for over a month.

Senior doctors have demanded the government first scrap the decision to increase the med
ical school quota by 2,000 from the current 3,058, saying it would sit down for talks with the government only if the plan is abolished.

Over 90 percent of the country’s 13,000 trainee doctors face potential license suspensions due to their refusal to end the strikes that have resulted in canceled surgeries and treatments at hospitals.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, shifting from his previous firm stance, hinted at a possible easing of punitive measures against the striking doctors.

“Many people and patients are worried due to various pending issues in the medical community recently,” Han said. “I believe they want us to form a constructive dialogue channel and try to empathize and understand each other.”

Source: Yonhap News Agency