Initially, the country’s health ministry is planning to send 15 military doctors to the most affected ERs. Credit: Dolores M. Harvey/Shutterstock.

South Korea is reportedly addressing a significant hospital staff shortage by deploying military doctors to support emergency room (ER) operations.  

The latest move comes in response to a strike by young doctors which has put additional strain on the country’s medical system.  

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Despite the challenges, South Korean vice health minister Park Min-soo has refuted claims that major hospitals have suspended emergency room services, stating that while some have reduced hours, reports of a complete collapse are inaccurate, Reuters reported.  

“The overall emergency medical capacity is such that there are some difficulties but it’s not a situation where we have to worry about a collapse as some people are warning,” Park told the news agency. 

Initially, the country’s health ministry is planning to send 15 military doctors to the most affected emergency rooms and then later assign a total of 235 military and community doctors to rotate into troubled hospitals beginning 9 September.  

The latest decision follows some of the concerns raised by the National Association of Medical School Professors, regarding the disruption of normal emergency room services and the onset of a healthcare system collapse. 

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The strike, which initially commenced in February this year, saw thousands of South Korea’s trainee doctors, including interns and resident doctors, protesting a government plan to increase medical student numbers.  

This action was in anticipation of a projected severe doctor shortage.  

As a result, hospitals that depended on trainee doctors across various medical disciplines have been forced to turn away patients due to staffing issues, leading to an increased workload for the remaining medical staff. 

With a three-day holiday approaching on 16 September, there are growing concerns about the potential impact on emergency room operations, the report highlighted.  

In preparation, the government has announced that 4,000 local clinics, as well as smaller hospitals, will be operational during the holiday period to alleviate pressure on emergency services.