South Korea begins suspending licences of 4,900 striking doctors; leaves door open for dialogue

The Health Ministry on Monday said it had sent administrative notifications – the first step to suspending the doctors’ medical licences – to thousands of trainee doctors after they defied specific orders telling them to return to their hospitals.

“As of Mar 8 (notifications) have been sent to more than 4,900 trainee doctors,” Chun Byung-wang, director of the health and medical policy division at the health ministry, told reporters.

The government has previously warned striking doctors they face a three-month suspension of their licences, a punishment which, it says, will delay their ability to qualify as specialists by at least a year.

Chun urged the striking medics to return to their patients.

“The government will take into account the circumstance and protect trainee doctors if they return to work before the administrative measure is complete,” he said, indicating doctors who come back to work now could avoid the punishment.

“The government will not give up dialogue. The door for dialogue is always open … The government will respect and listen to opinions of the medical community as a companion for the medical reforms,” he added.