Only 21 trainee doctors applied for additional recruitment: South Korea
Seoul, Aug 19: Only 21 trainee doctors applied for an additional round of recruitment, South Korea’s health ministry said on Monday, dashing the government’s hopes of normalising the medical void that has persisted since February.
Hospitals closed applications for additional recruitment last week following the medical community’s indifferent response to the initial round that ended last month, reports Yonhap news agency.
During the previous round, the total number of applicants was only 104, filling just 1.4 per cent of the 7,645 available positions.
The number of applicants at the country’s top five hospitals – Asan Medical Center, Samsung Medical Center, Severance Hospital, Seoul National University Hospital and Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital – also fell to just seven during the latest recruitment.
These hospitals play a key role in providing medical care to critically ill patients in South Korea.
Meanwhile, local hospitals plan to start training programs in September after completing the remaining steps, including interviews.
Last month, hospitals processed the resignations of about 7,700 trainee doctors who had been protesting a medical school quota increase since February, allowing the departing doctors to find new jobs and allowing hospitals to recruit new trainees.
In South Korea, hospitals are essential for providing medical care to critically ill patients.
Meanwhile, local hospitals intend to complete the remaining steps, including interviews, and start training programs in September.
Hospitals were able to hire new trainees and let go of more than 7,700 trainee doctors who had been protesting a medical school quota increase since February. The resignations were processed last month.
In an effort to address the shortage of doctors in critical services, the government has finalised plans to increase the number of medical students by about 1,500 next year, despite strong opposition from resident doctors.
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