76% of S. Korea's trainee doctors willing to submit letters of resignation amid continued walk-out
전공의 76% "사표 쓰겠다"... 오늘은 '휴대폰 OFF' 집단행동
Despite the mandatory return-to-work order issued by the South Korean government on all striking trainee doctors,... they still remain adamant in their demands to scrap planned healthcare reforms.
In fact,... more than three-quarters of them have expressed their intent to submit letters of resignation if necessary.
Kim Hyo-sun reports.
Seventy-six percent of South Korea's trainee doctors have stated they are willing to submit letters of resignation,... as they continue their walk-out protesting the government's medical reform plan.
The Korean Intern Resident Association says thousands of trainee doctors will partake in a collective action to turn their mobile phones off for the entire day Friday.
All Trainee doctors at the Emergency Department of Severance Hospital in Sinchon, Seoul have already submitted letters of resignation.
Some 8-hundred trainee doctors at five big hospitals in Daegu area say they will do the same.
They explained they will not respond to the return-to-work order issued by the government, which has even warned of possible jail terms as such collective action causes major difficulties especially when the country is facing a nationwide COVID-19 outbreak.
The Association remained adamant, explaining that if a single trainee doctor in the country faces damages, the medical sector will lose some 16-thousand interns and resident doctors.
The government's stance also remains unchanged.
Seoul's health minister sat down with the heads of the country's major university hospitals, stressing the government's utmost priority is protecting the lives and safety of the public.
"I cannot understand the decision taken by the doctors. To this, the government had no other choice but to take legal action, including a return-to-work order, to ensure it does not threaten the public's lives and safety."
The government, however, has withdrawn its plan to report these medical practitioners to the police late Friday afternoon,... after threatening them that they could be charged if they continue to strike.
Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.
Despite the mandatory return-to-work order issued by the South Korean government on all striking trainee doctors,... they still remain adamant in their demands to scrap planned healthcare reforms.
In fact,... more than three-quarters of them have expressed their intent to submit letters of resignation if necessary.
Kim Hyo-sun reports.
Seventy-six percent of South Korea's trainee doctors have stated they are willing to submit letters of resignation,... as they continue their walk-out protesting the government's medical reform plan.
The Korean Intern Resident Association says thousands of trainee doctors will partake in a collective action to turn their mobile phones off for the entire day Friday.
All Trainee doctors at the Emergency Department of Severance Hospital in Sinchon, Seoul have already submitted letters of resignation.
Some 8-hundred trainee doctors at five big hospitals in Daegu area say they will do the same.
They explained they will not respond to the return-to-work order issued by the government, which has even warned of possible jail terms as such collective action causes major difficulties especially when the country is facing a nationwide COVID-19 outbreak.
The Association remained adamant, explaining that if a single trainee doctor in the country faces damages, the medical sector will lose some 16-thousand interns and resident doctors.
The government's stance also remains unchanged.
Seoul's health minister sat down with the heads of the country's major university hospitals, stressing the government's utmost priority is protecting the lives and safety of the public.
"I cannot understand the decision taken by the doctors. To this, the government had no other choice but to take legal action, including a return-to-work order, to ensure it does not threaten the public's lives and safety."
The government, however, has withdrawn its plan to report these medical practitioners to the police late Friday afternoon,... after threatening them that they could be charged if they continue to strike.
Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.