Why South Korean Doctors Are Going On Strike Amidst The Covid-19 Outbreak

Patient: I have to see a doctor urgently. I just tested positive for Covid-19.

Receptionist: I’m afraid the doctor on duty is not available at the moment. 

Patient: Oh ok, but surely there are other doctors in this hospital?

Receptionist: There are many, yes, but they’ve all gone on strike.

Patient: Strike? Why?

Receptionist: Because the country will soon have more doctors.

Patient: All the doctors have gone on strike because the country will soon have more doctors?

Receptionist: Yes

Patients: …

Receptionist: …

Patient: Is delirium one of the symptoms of Covid-19?

This above conversation sounds ridiculous, but this is the situation many Covid-19 patients are facing in South Korea.

In the past couple of weeks, doctors across the country have been participating in walkouts in protest of several government proposals, forcing hospitals and medical clinics to either close or shorten their hours.

The protests couldn’t have come at a worse time, as the country is battling one of its worst outbreaks of the coronavirus.

So, what is this hullabaloo all about? And why are doctors in South Korea refusing to treat patients?

Plans to Increase Number of Medical Students

It all started in July, when the South Korean government announced plans to boost the usual medical school quota of 3,058 admissions each year by around 400, or 13%, over the next ten years.

This means there’ll be an addition 4,000 medical students in the next decade.

The government also aims to establish public medical schools and allow government insurance to cover more traditional medicine and introduce more telemedicine options.

These measures will help prepare the country for future public health crises, the government said.

They argue that if the country has more doctors, the number of physicians in unpopular but important fields, as well as rural areas, will be boosted.

South Korean physicians aren’t on the same page, however.

“We Already Have Enough Doctors”

On 7 August, thousands of South Korean trainee doctors went on strike to protest the government’s plans to increase the number of medical students, arguing it would be a poor use of funds.

The Korean Medical Association (KMA), which helped organise the protest, argued that the country already has more than enough doctors.

Around 12,000 trainee doctors participated in a silent protest outside parliament in Seoul while wearing face masks and shields, reported Reuters.

A week later, around a quarter of South Korea’s medical clinics closed as physicians took part in another protest outside parliament, where hundreds of doctors and trainees were reportedly involved.

In fact, there have been several walkouts all over the country in the past few weeks, according to Al Jazeera. 

Earlier this week, doctors had reached an agreement with the government to treat Covid-19 patients but failed to get their concerns addressed.

That’s why yet another protest has been organised even though the authorities ordered doctors to return to work.

The latest walkout, which began on Wednesday (26 Aug) involved thousands of teaching hospital doctors, trainee doctors, and private-practice physicians, and forced five major general hospitals to limit their hours and delay scheduled surgeries.

The three-day strike, which was also organised by the KMA, includes 130,000 members.

So, what exactly do these protesting medical professionals want?

Underpaid & Overworked

The physicians who are opposed to the government’s plans feel the money would be better spent on improving pay and working conditions, as doctors complain they are underpaid and overworked.

“We, young doctors, are paid at the minimum wage and work 80 hours a week, twice what the labour law stipulates”, said the Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA).

“We have nothing to lose”.

One of the government’s reasons for increasing the number of medical students is to entice more doctors to work in rural areas, as most physicians are drawn to urban ones.

However, the KMA argues that this is due to poor medical infrastructure and work conditions in rural areas and that funds should be used to tackle these problems instead.

As for encouraging doctors to work in unpopular fields, one medical professional said the government should improve the system to make the important fields more desirable, instead of simply boosting numbers.

“The reason many are avoiding the fields is because of a poor work and training environment and intensive workload,” he said.

Establishing better infrastructure in these fields would also attract more doctors, some argue.

Government Could Take Legal Action

In response to the protests, Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said that the government now “has no choice” but to take necessary legal action, which includes an order to open businesses.

“We urge all trainee and fellow doctors to immediately return to work”, he said.

According to Al Jazeera, those who do not obey the government’s order without probable cause could have their licences revoked and even face a jail term of up to three years or a fine of less than 30 million won (around S$34,500).

However, despite the harsh penalties, it seems unlikely that protests will end unless doctors’ demands are met.

Physicians and the authorities agreed on Tuesday (25 Aug) to start discussions on the issue, but they have not reached a compromise as of yet.

“We sincerely do want to return,” KMA said. “We ask you, citizens, to listen to our voice so that we can meet our patients as soon as possible.”

Recent Spike in Coronavirus Cases

The protests haven’t exactly come at an opportune time, as the country is experiencing a spike in Covid-19 cases.

Just a few days ago, South Korea reported 397 new infections, the highest daily tally since 7 Mar.

The country has also consistently seen triple-digit daily increases since 14 Aug.

South Korea now has a total of 18,706 Covid-19 cases, with two additional fatalities reported on Wednesday.

With clinics closing and hospitals limiting their hours, the situation might just spiral out of control.

Let’s hope that medical professionals and the South Korean government manage to reach an agreement before they start seeing the alarming number of infections they witnessed in March.

Read Also: South Korean Dramas & Variety Shows Have Temporarily Stopped Filming Due To Covid-19

At least 7 shows affected, including Running Man and Flower of Evil.