South Korea’s government officially ordered thousands of striking doctors to get back to work immediately after the biggest hospitals across the country were forced to cancel operations and turn away patients who sought emergency care, on Wednesday (Feb 21).&nbsp;

<h2>South Korea’s warning</h2>

South Korea officially ordered doctors and medical workers who have walked off the job over proposed reforms to get back to work, a step that could lead to legal punishments if they don’t.

WATCH |&nbsp;Why are South Korean trainee doctors on strike?

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More than 8,800 junior doctors – over 71 per cent of the trainee workforce – have quit, said South Korea’s Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo, on Wednesday.&nbsp;

On Wednesday alone, 7,813 trainee doctors had not shown up for work, a five-fold increase since the protests began on Monday, according to Park.

A recent plan proposed by the government to increase the number of medical students in a bid to boost healthcare staffing in remote areas of the country, as well as meet the demands of one of the world’s most rapidly ageing societies has led to widespread protests and criticism.&nbsp;

The government accused trainee doctors of putting their rights before the lives of patients. “The basic calling of medical professionals is to protect the health and lives of the people, and any group action that threatens this cannot be justified,” said Park.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korean-trainee-doctors-stop-work-to-protest-medical-reforms-692126">South Korean trainee doctors stop work to protest medical reforms</a>

He also called the walkout a violation of South Korean law, as medical workers cannot refuse the so-called return to work orders “without justifiable grounds”.&nbsp;

South Korea’s Safety Minister Lee Sang-min later threatened the protest leaders with possible arrest. “The police and the prosecutors’ office will consult and take measures against any group or individuals who are leading collective action, including arrest and investigation,” said Lee.&nbsp;

<h2>Impact on hospitals</h2>

As the protests grew, on Wednesday, South Korea’s general hospitals which heavily rely on trainees for emergency operations and surgeries were reportedly left paralysed.&nbsp;

Cancer patients and pregnant women needing C-sections have seen procedures cancelled or delayed, as per local media reports.&nbsp;

Around a third and a half of scheduled surgeries at the five major hospitals have reportedly been cancelled due to the walkout.&nbsp;

<h2>Why are the doctors protesting?</h2>

South Korea’s government has argued that the reforms are essential citing the low number of doctors in the country and the ageing population.&nbsp;

However, the doctors have said that universities aren’t ready to offer quality education since the government, as per its proposal, has sought to increase the nationwide medical school admissions cap by 2,000 from next year.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-calls-for-urgent-meet-with-polish-government-to-solve-border-blockade-692479">Zelensky calls for urgent meet with Polish government to solve border blockade</a>

The 2,000 additional admissions “is a nonsensical figure,” the Korean Intern Residents Association said in a statement Tuesday (Feb 20) and called the plan a political ploy ahead of a general election in April.&nbsp;

The protesters have also argued that South Korea has enough doctors and that the government needs to address working conditions and pay before recruiting more students.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

South Korea’s government officially ordered thousands of striking doctors to get back to work immediately after the biggest hospitals across the country were forced to cancel operations and turn away patients who sought emergency care, on Wednesday (Feb 21).

South Korea’s government officially ordered thousands of striking doctors to get back to work immediately after the biggest hospitals across the country were forced to cancel operations and turn away patients who sought emergency care, on Wednesday (Feb 21). South Korea’s warning South Korea officially ordered doctors and medical workers who have walked off the job over proposed reforms to get back to work, a step that could lead to legal punishments if they don’t. WATCH | Why are South Korean trainee doctors on strike? More than 8,800 junior doctors – over 71 per cent of the trainee workforce – have quit, said South Korea’s Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo, on Wednesday. On Wednesday alone, 7,813 trainee doctors had not shown up for work, a five-fold increase since the protests began on Monday, according to Park. A recent plan proposed by the government to increase the number of medical students in a bid to boost healthcare staffing in remote areas of the country, as well as meet the demands of one of the world’s most rapidly ageing societies has led to widespread protests and criticism. The government accused trainee doctors of putting their rights before the lives of patients. “The basic calling of medical professionals is to protect the health and lives of the people, and any group action that threatens this cannot be justified,” said Park. Also Read | South Korean trainee doctors stop work to protest medical reforms He also called the walkout a violation of South Korean law, as medical workers cannot refuse the so-called return to work orders “without justifiable grounds”. South Korea’s Safety Minister Lee Sang-min later threatened the protest leaders with possible arrest. “The police and the prosecutors’ office will consult and take measures against any group or individuals who are leading collective action, including arrest and investigation,” said Lee. Impact on hospitals As the protests grew, on Wednesday, South Korea’s general hospitals which heavily rely on trainees for emergency operations and surgeries were reportedly left paralysed. Cancer patients and pregnant women needing C-sections have seen procedures cancelled or delayed, as per local media reports. Around a third and a half of scheduled surgeries at the five major hospitals have reportedly been cancelled due to the walkout. Why are the doctors protesting? South Korea’s government has argued that the reforms are essential citing the low number of doctors in the country and the ageing population. However, the doctors have said that universities aren’t ready to offer quality education since the government, as per its proposal, has sought to increase the nationwide medical school admissions cap by 2,000 from next year. Also Read | Zelensky calls for urgent meet with Polish government to solve border blockade The 2,000 additional admissions “is a nonsensical figure,” the Korean Intern Residents Association said in a statement Tuesday (Feb 20) and called the plan a political ploy ahead of a general election in April. The protesters have also argued that South Korea has enough doctors and that the government needs to address working conditions and pay before recruiting more students. (With inputs from agencies)

South Korea orders striking doctors back to work as emergency units turn away patients

South Korea is undergoing a unique crisis. There is a huge shortage of paediatricians, with the majority leaving their practice thinking the field has no future.

South Korea is undergoing a unique crisis. There is a huge shortage of paediatricians, with the majority leaving their practice thinking the field has no future. The hospitals are unable to fill the positions, sparking a major health concern for the children of the country. In the capital city of Seoul, the number of paediatric clinics and hospitals has fallen to just 456, down 12.5 per cent over the last five years. In the first half of 2022, the hospitals were able to secure the services of only 16.3 per cent of the paediatricians they sought, compared to 97.4 per cent in 2013. Why are doctors giving up paediatrics? The root cause of the problem, according to paediatricians, is the decline in the birth rate which fell to 0.78 in 2022. Combined with the failure of the insurance system to adapt, it has left the doctors with no way but to shun the field they believe has hit a dead-end. Notably, when the birth rate was healthy in the Asian country, paediatricians could manage with the low-price, high-volume model. However, since the dip in birth rates, the low fee has become a severe problem and insurance services have not revised their prices to keep up with the changing times. Also read | This country has the world's lowest fertility rate, breaks its own record "In foreign countries, the government pays enough to maintain the hospital even if you see 20 patients a day. But it's about $10 per treatment in Korea, so clinics have to see about 80 patients a day," said Dr Lim Hyun-taek, president of the Korean Pediatric Association. Paediatricians are South Korea’s lowest-paid doctors, making 57 per cent less than the average doctor's salary, according to data accessed from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Also read | Population collapse? Number of Japanese households with kids falls to historic low Long waiting queues The shortage of doctors for children means that parents are having to endure long waiting periods for the treatment of sick children. "Patients dying while bouncing around multiple emergency rooms, dying when it's not a serious disease, it's a travesty," Dr Choi Yong-jae, vice president of the Korea Children's Hospital Association, was quoted as saying by The Guardian. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has acknowledged the problem and said measures were being put in place to address them. Experts, however, warn that there is no quick fix to the problem. WATCH | WION Fineprint: Japan's PM Kishida vows to raise birth rate While the doctors giving up on child healthcare is a massive problem on its own, the elephant in the room is the dwindling birth rate. According to reports, S Korea needs a fertility rate of 2.1 to maintain a stable population. Seoul's population reportedly shrank for the first time in 2021. The decline could have direct repercussions on its economy which is one of the biggest in the world. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Doctors in South Korea are giving up on paediatrics, sparking major health concern. Know why

The government has called for "fundamental changes" over the latest census figures released at the weekend.

Your Story: South Korea's population declines for the first time ever