The South Korean government is seeking to have its first talks with doctors who have walked off the job in protest of a plan to increase slots of medical schools, as a deadline looms for them to return to work ¡ª or face punishment.
The Health and Welfare Ministry said Thursday it has proposed having talks to address the 10-day walkout by about 9,000 trainee doctors. The labor action has led to about a 50% reduction in surgeries, people being turned away from emergency rooms and strains to the health care system.
¡°Today is our last day of waiting for trainee doctors to make the right judgment and decision,¡± Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min said in a government meeting where he implored them to end their walkout. He said ¡°desperate patients are waiting for surgeries,¡± and the government will work to improve labor conditions.
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