South Korea Deploys Military Doctors Amid Medical Staff Shortage
The South Korean government has taken action to address the staffing shortages in hospital emergency rooms by deploying military doctors. Despite claims of a healthcare system collapse, Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo reassured the public that while some hospitals are operating with reduced ER hours and fewer doctors, reports of major hospitals shutting down ER operations are unfounded.
To alleviate the strain on the system, 15 military doctors will be deployed initially, with a total of 235 military and community doctors rotating through troubled hospitals from September 9 onwards. The crisis began in February when thousands of trainee doctors went on strike against a government proposal to increase medical student admissions, leading to staffing shortages in hospitals reliant on these trainees.
There are concerns over the upcoming holiday period potentially exacerbating the situation, prompting the government to keep local clinics and smaller hospitals open on a rotating basis to manage patient care. The proactive measures taken aim to stabilize emergency medical services and ensure continued patient access to care during these challenging times.
