Foreign media strengthens ‘medical system junior doctor strike, medical school and medical system separate’
In response to the Korean medical strike, foreign media outlets are further strengthening their stance on ‘a strike by low-level doctors in the medical system’ and ‘separation of the medical system from medical schools and large hospitals’.
As foreign media moved away from the Korean government-led media promotion and focused on the ‘majors’ strike’, the ‘legitimacy of the strike’ became more important, and the government turned a blind eye to foreign media briefings.
Korea's large hospital business, which leads the highest profits and investment in luxurious medical equipment, has led to the rapid growth of the government's medical system, and while foreign media has paid attention to the medical industry, which is supported by residents and shaken by the minimum level of trainees, the Korean government and media focused more on the 'doctor privilege strike' and completely excluded medical industry expansion strategies.
In an interview with a striking resident, Reuters pointed out 'unconstitutional government threats' and 'strike due to bloating of medical system relying on low-priced, low-level medical residents', while AP pointed out gaps in resolution of 'medical school quota' and 'lack of essential subjects in medical system'. .
In an article that posted a photo of “Doctors marching toward the President’s office at a rally opposing government medical policies held in Seoul, South Korea,” AP said, “About 9,000 medical interns and residents protest the government’s plan to increase medical school enrollment by about 65%.” “Strikers argue that the university cannot handle that many new students and that this plan does not solve the chronic shortage of doctors in some key but low-paying fields, such as pediatrics and emergency rooms.”26 It was reported.
Reuters said in an interview with the resident strike, “Dr. Ryu and Dr. Park say junior doctors, a critical cog in Korea’s highly regarded medical system, are overworked, underpaid and not listened to,” adding, “The striking doctors are Korean doctors.” “Although they are only a small portion of the 100,000 people, they account for more than 40% of the staff at large teaching hospitals and perform important work in emergency rooms, intensive care units, and operating rooms,” a report on the medical system that relies on junior doctors said on the 26th.
There has been a strong tendency for foreign media to move away from media promotions led by the Korean government and focus on the ‘majors’ strike’ and place more emphasis on the ‘legitimacy of the strike’.
Reuters said, “After about two-thirds of the country’s young doctors quit their jobs in protest this month, hospitals refused patients and canceled surgeries,” adding, “Young doctors are more concerned about pay and working conditions than the government’s plan to increase the number of doctors.” "This must be a priority, and authorities need more staff to increase health services in remote areas and meet the growing needs of one of the world's fastest aging societies," it said.
“Korea’s excellent medical system is currently being run in a way that keeps cheap trainees working,” Ryu Ok-Ha, a 25-year-old resident who participated in the strike, said in a Reuters interview.
Reuters’ approach to the strike situation was, “According to the Korea Resident Association, interns and residents in Korea work shifts of 36 hours, while in the United States they work shifts of less than 24 hours. Half of young doctors in the United States work less than 60 hours a week.” On the other hand, a representative example is the diagnosis that “Korean doctors often work more than 100 hours.”
Interviewer Ryu said he worked more than 100 hours a week at the most prestigious university hospital in Korea and received 2 to 4 million won ($1,500 to $3,000) per month, including overtime pay. According to data from the American Medical Association, he was a first-year U.S. resident. The average monthly income is about $5,000, Reuters reported.
Park Dan (33 years old), president of the Korean Medical Residents Association, said in a Reuters interview, “I want the authorities to deploy doctors to essential departments such as pediatrics and emergency rooms in large hospitals,” and added, “Doctors want better legal protection from medical malpractice lawsuits, and universal “In a country often praised for providing affordable, quality health care coverage, many hospitals want to see change to a system that relies on underpaid staff and uninsured services,” he said.
Chairman Park said, “I was conflicted between the government implementing policies without listening to the doctors and the patients, but I had no choice,” and added, “I came this far with pride in saving the patients. As many doctors say, leaving a patient was heartbreaking and difficult. “But the current system is distorted and we need something better,” he told Reuters.
Reuters reported, “Hospitals did not process the resignations of doctors who protested, saying they were not on strike. The government ordered them to return to work and threatened to arrest them or revoke their licenses. Their collective action cannot be justified and the lives of the people must come first. Other doctors, including Mr. Park, say that this order is unconstitutional and that they are forcing them to work against their will,” the report said.
AP reported that Park Min-soo, Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, said in a briefing on the 26th, “We hope to return to work by February 29th,” and “Those who do not meet the deadline will have their medical license suspended for at least three months and face additional legal action, including investigation and prosecution.” It reported the announcement of “It will be.”
AP said, “According to Korean medical law, if the government determines that there is a serious risk to public health, it can order doctors and other medical personnel to return to work, and if they do not comply with the order, their licenses will be suspended and imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of 30 million won ($22,480) will be imposed.” ) You can be fined, and if you are sentenced to prison, your medical license will be revoked,” said Choi Hyun-deok, a lawyer at Dalian, a law firm specializing in medical law, saying it is unlikely that the government will suspend the licenses of all doctors on strike. , other observers said authorities were likely to punish strike leaders,” the report said.
“There are about 13,000 medical interns and residents in Korea, most of whom work and are trained at 100 hospitals, and typically assist senior doctors during surgeries and deal with hospitalized patients,” the AP said. “They provide medicine for all doctors at some major hospitals.” “It accounts for 30 to 40 percent,” he said.
AP reported, “The Korean Medical Association, which represents about 140,000 doctors, has said it supports the striking doctors, but has not yet decided whether to join the strike of doctors in training,” and added, “A series of rallies by doctors opposing the government plan have been held recently.”
On the 26th, President Yoon Seok-yeol said of the medical system, "Ensuring that citizens receive proper treatment at the right time when they are sick is the core of welfare and the country's constitutional responsibility."
On the 25th, the President's Office criticized the medical community, saying, "In no country in the world has there been a case of doctors taking extreme actions, such as putting patients' lives as hostage in a mass resignation letter or medical students taking a leave of absence, in response to an increase in the number of medical school students."