More than 12,000 doctors in training, more than 90 percent of the total, have been on strike with mass resignations since February 20 in protest against the government's increase in admission fees to medical schools, and most of them have rejected the state order to return to work, Yonhap News Agency reports.
"As of today, the government decided not to take administrative action against any doctors in training, regardless of their return to hospitals, given the demand from the medical community and the health care situation," said Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong, at a press conference after a meeting of the Security and Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters.
"The government will give special favors to returning young doctors regarding their training, as well as those who choose to reapply for training courses in September," Cho added.
The government had said it would suspend the medical licenses of striking doctors and take other punitive administrative measures for industrial action in accordance with the law.
But the medical community has called for a withdrawal, saying such measures have made the situation much worse, with doctors reluctant to return to work for fear the move will lead to punishment against their defiant colleagues.
Officials later hinted that they would suspend, rather than cancel, such plans, but Cho made it clear that the government would accept the doctors' demand.
The decision, however, could spark criticism that it harms the principle of fairness in the government's handling of labor actions, as doctors are allowed to go unpunished despite illegal acts.
"It aims to minimize the gap in medical services for seriously ill and emergency patients and train professional doctors at the right time to ensure public interests," Cho said, calling on training hospitals to finalize the number of vacancies by next Monday.
It was not immediately known how many of the striking doctors would return to work following the announcement.
"We believe that the withdrawal of administrative measures was the minimum step necessary to start a dialogue," a third-year resident, who asked not to be identified, told Yonhap News Agency. "I think this is the right direction, regardless of whether it was enough or not."
However, An Suk-kyoon, who heads the emergency committee of medical professors at Yonsei University, said the government failed to provide credible messages to the medical community.
"Although the government's announcement may mark a half-step forward, it only withdrew the administrative steps instead of canceling them," An said.
For more fundamental solutions, the government promised to push forward the reform of the workforce structure of major general hospitals, reducing their dependence on doctors in training and increasing the number and roles of professional doctors and physical assistance nurses.
By doing so, large hospitals will be able to better focus on providing treatment to emergency patients and those suffering from critical cases and rare diseases, according to the Ministry of Health.
"As of today, the government decided not to take administrative action against any doctors in training, regardless of their return to hospitals, given the demand from the medical community and the health care situation," said Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong, at a press conference after a meeting of the Security and Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters.
"The government will give special favors to returning young doctors regarding their training, as well as those who choose to reapply for training courses in September," Cho added.
The government had said it would suspend the medical licenses of striking doctors and take other punitive administrative measures for industrial action in accordance with the law.
But the medical community has called for a withdrawal, saying such measures have made the situation much worse, with doctors reluctant to return to work for fear the move will lead to punishment against their defiant colleagues.
Officials later hinted that they would suspend, rather than cancel, such plans, but Cho made it clear that the government would accept the doctors' demand.
The decision, however, could spark criticism that it harms the principle of fairness in the government's handling of labor actions, as doctors are allowed to go unpunished despite illegal acts.
"It aims to minimize the gap in medical services for seriously ill and emergency patients and train professional doctors at the right time to ensure public interests," Cho said, calling on training hospitals to finalize the number of vacancies by next Monday.
It was not immediately known how many of the striking doctors would return to work following the announcement.
"We believe that the withdrawal of administrative measures was the minimum step necessary to start a dialogue," a third-year resident, who asked not to be identified, told Yonhap News Agency. "I think this is the right direction, regardless of whether it was enough or not."
However, An Suk-kyoon, who heads the emergency committee of medical professors at Yonsei University, said the government failed to provide credible messages to the medical community.
"Although the government's announcement may mark a half-step forward, it only withdrew the administrative steps instead of canceling them," An said.
For more fundamental solutions, the government promised to push forward the reform of the workforce structure of major general hospitals, reducing their dependence on doctors in training and increasing the number and roles of professional doctors and physical assistance nurses.
By doing so, large hospitals will be able to better focus on providing treatment to emergency patients and those suffering from critical cases and rare diseases, according to the Ministry of Health.
