SEOUL: Medical school professors and community doctors decided Saturday to convene a one-day nationwide debate next month on the government's medical reform, a decision that will apparently result in a collective one-day walkout. A doctors' consultative group, known as the "special committee for upright medical care," resolved to hold the debate on July 26 with participation from doctors of every discipline, including medical school professors. Represented by medical professors as well as trainee and community doctors, the committee was launched earlier this month as the representative body to negotiate with the government over medical reform. Committee officials said the debate will inevitably lead to a one-day suspension of medical services by participants, who are likely to be mostly medical professors at general university hospitals. Committee members also reiterated their call for the government to abandon its medical school quota hike, which they said was decided without scientific justification. T he decision came amid the continuing standoff between the government and the doctors' community over the government's decision to increase admission quotas across medical schools nationwide by about 1,500 seats for next year in an effort to address a shortage of doctors. Medical professors at three major hospitals of Yonsei University have been on an indefinite walkout since Thursday, demanding "tangible measures" from the government to resolve the ongoing health care crisis. Since late February, trainee doctors nationwide have also been staying off their duties at general hospitals in protest, significantly reducing medical service capacities at the hospitals. Source: Yonhap News Agency
Related Articles
(LEAD) Defense chiefs of S. Korea, Japan discuss N.K. threats, cooperation
The defense chiefs of South Korea and Japan held bilateral talks in Tokyo on Sunday and discussed North Korea’s evolving threats and ways to strengthen their cooperation, Seoul’s defense ministry said.
In their meeting, South Korean Defense Minister…
Strong baht attracts capital inflow, supporting Thai stock market
Analysts say the baht is strengthening, coupled with foreign investors returning to invest, and the Vayuphak Fund’s ‘oversubscription’ has resulted in the Thai stock index continuing to rebound. SET closed this morning at 1,451.78 points, up 0.09 points (+0.01%) with a trading value of 24,046 million baht. Mr. Wikit Thirawanrat, Director of Retail Research, Bualuang […]
BTS asked to cease publicity on debt settlement by Krungthep Thanakom
The Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS), the operator of the Green Line sky train service, has been urged to end its continuous advertising, demanding the settlement of a large debt owed to it by Krungthep Thanakom, an investment arm of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. Krungthep Thanakom owes BTS 20 billion baht for operations and […]