SEOUL: South Korea called on Monday for trainee doctors to return to work, saying they would be spared punitive actions if they went back to the hospitals, as protests over medical reforms entered a second week.

Thousands of junior doctors have resigned and stopped showing up to work as part of a spiralling action against government plans to sharply increase medical school admissions in the face of shortages plus a rapidly ageing society.

The mass work stoppage has resulted in cancellations and postponements of surgeries for cancer patients and C-sections for pregnant women, with the government raising its public health alert to the highest level over the fallout. Doctors are considered essential workers in South Korea and are restricted by law from striking.

The government has repeatedly claimed the mass resignation is unlawful, and has threatened to take legal action against those involved, or cancel their medical licences, Yonhap news agency has reported.

The government made a “final appeal” for the doctors to return to work this week, interior minister Lee Sang-min said during an crisis management meeting. “If you return to the hospital by Feb 29, you will not be held accountable for what happened in the past,” he said.

Lee said the prolonged collective action posed “threats to the lives and health of patients”. “The hospital was the space where your dream of treating sick patients was realised every day,” he said to striking doctors, adding: “I hope you will return to the workplaces... and engage in dialogue for better medical environment.”

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2024