Return-to-work order expanded nationwide as doctors' strike continues
- 4 years ago
전공의•전임의 업무개시명령 전국으로 확대…'약 80명 복귀'
Doctors here in South Korea and the government appear to be only drifting further apart.
On the third day of a nationwide doctors' strike, authorities are vowing legal action against those who defy back-to-work orders; doctors are discussing launching an indenifinite strike.
Kim Do-yeon has been following this story.
"Doctors don't need any special reason or purpose to come back to work. The only reason they need is to save lives."
On top of the return-to-work order imposed in the capital area, the government has expanded the order to nationwide.
And reversing a decision made the day before, the government also filed a complaint with the police regarding the ten doctors who refused the order.
The Korean Medical Association warned previously that taking this step would result in a tougher response.
"At the protest committee's meeting at 6 PM tonight, we will discuss whether to go on a third, indefinite strike."
He added he will also file a complaint for an abuse of authority by the government and bring the legislation that back the government's action to the constitutional court.
Under the current legislation, doctors who violated the order could face up to three years in prison or over 25-thousand U.S. dollars in fines
They could also have their medical license suspended... or even canceled.
The government added that after their field investigation, they found around 80 doctors returned to work due to the order.
According to the health ministry, around 68% of interns and residents joined the strike, and while some have returned to work, many of them turned off all means of communication when the order was imposed in the capital.
Medical interns and residents went on strike on August 21st over the government's health reform plans, and were joined by doctors nationwide from Wednesday to Friday.
While not many local clinics joined the strike, major hospitals affected by it had to cancel surgeries.
For example, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital reduced surgeries by half and admitted 30 percent fewer new patients.
Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.
Doctors here in South Korea and the government appear to be only drifting further apart.
On the third day of a nationwide doctors' strike, authorities are vowing legal action against those who defy back-to-work orders; doctors are discussing launching an indenifinite strike.
Kim Do-yeon has been following this story.
"Doctors don't need any special reason or purpose to come back to work. The only reason they need is to save lives."
On top of the return-to-work order imposed in the capital area, the government has expanded the order to nationwide.
And reversing a decision made the day before, the government also filed a complaint with the police regarding the ten doctors who refused the order.
The Korean Medical Association warned previously that taking this step would result in a tougher response.
"At the protest committee's meeting at 6 PM tonight, we will discuss whether to go on a third, indefinite strike."
He added he will also file a complaint for an abuse of authority by the government and bring the legislation that back the government's action to the constitutional court.
Under the current legislation, doctors who violated the order could face up to three years in prison or over 25-thousand U.S. dollars in fines
They could also have their medical license suspended... or even canceled.
The government added that after their field investigation, they found around 80 doctors returned to work due to the order.
According to the health ministry, around 68% of interns and residents joined the strike, and while some have returned to work, many of them turned off all means of communication when the order was imposed in the capital.
Medical interns and residents went on strike on August 21st over the government's health reform plans, and were joined by doctors nationwide from Wednesday to Friday.
While not many local clinics joined the strike, major hospitals affected by it had to cancel surgeries.
For example, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital reduced surgeries by half and admitted 30 percent fewer new patients.
Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.