South Korea deploys military, public doctors to strike-hit hospitals

South Korea is set to deploy military physicians and doctors from public health centers to hospitals affected by the walkout of nearly 12,000 trainee doctors from 100 hospitals. The strike, initiated on February 20 over government reform plans, has led to the government denying a full-blown health crisis, although some hospitals have faced patient rejections and delayed medical procedures. To address this, 20 military surgeons and 138 public health doctors will be assigned to 20 hospitals for four weeks. The government has warned doctors of potential license suspension, but attempts to coax them back to work have seen limited success. The strike revolves around a government plan to increase medical school admissions to address a shortage of doctors in an aging society, a move opposed by the protesting doctors who argue for improved pay and work conditions. Critics suggest the government’s stance is politically motivated ahead of parliamentary elections in April.

Source – CGTN