South Korea is taking decisive action to ensure its healthcare system remains robust amid an ongoing doctors' strike. On Thursday, the government announced a special emergency medical response period set to last two weeks in September. This initiative aims to mitigate the impact of the strike by mobilizing all available resources to maintain essential medical services.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo addressed the nation during a televised briefing, emphasizing the government's commitment to supporting medical professionals. He revealed plans to temporarily increase the fees that doctors receive from health insurance during the upcoming national holiday period, as a gesture to acknowledge their dedication.
One significant measure includes a 3.5-fold increase in examination fees for specialist doctors at regional emergency medical centers. These centers play a crucial role in handling severe emergency cases, and the increased fees are intended to alleviate the additional workload caused by the strike.
Last week, the Health Ministry responded to staffing shortages by deploying military doctors to assist in some hospital emergency rooms. Despite concerns from some physicians about a potential collapse of the medical system, the government remains confident in its ability to manage the situation effectively.
The strike, which began in February, involves thousands of trainee doctors, including interns and residents, protesting the government's plan to increase medical student numbers by 2,000 annually. This plan aims to address the projected severe shortage of doctors in the future. However, the immediate impact has been significant, with hospitals across multiple medical disciplines turning away patients due to staff shortages and existing doctors experiencing increased workloads.
In preparation for next week's Chuseok holiday, one of South Korea's largest celebrations, the government plans to have approximately 8,000 medical clinics and hospitals open daily. This represents a substantial increase from the 3,600 clinics and hospitals that operated daily during the lunar New Year holidays earlier this year, ensuring that healthcare services remain accessible during this crucial period.
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South Korea declares emergency medical response amid doctors' strike
cgtn.com
