Nationwide Doctor Strike Begins in South Korea
This is not a good look for doctors to be going on strike during a pandemic, but they are at least going to keep the ICU’s staffed with personnel:
Doctors working at vital departments, including intensive care units, will continue to be on normal duty on Friday despite the strike. Last week, trainee doctors at hospitals also launched a one-day walkout.
As of Thursday, 8,365, or 24.7 percent of 33,836 clinics across the nation, reported they will close their doors on Friday, according to the health ministry.
“It will take some time to estimate how many hospitals will join the strike, as some of them may also be closing for the vacation season,” a ministry official said.
South Korea’s medical law stipulates that the minister, or related regional governors, can issue an order for hospitals to open if “a serious hazard occurs or is likely to occur to public health.”
Yonhap
You can read more at the link, but this strike has to do with the Moon administration trying to increase the quota on how many doctors can be trained each year to try and better staff rural areas. However, the doctors are saying there are plenty of doctors, the problem is most of them want to live in the Seoul area for better hospitals and quality of life.
