의협•복지부 첫 공개토론…"명문화 당연" vs "약속에 책임"<br /><br />Days have passed since thousands of trainee doctors across South Korea launched an indefinite walk-out,... but the government and the country's young doctors still can't see eye to eye on the government's planned healthcare reforms.<br />Kim Hyo-sun reports.<br />The South Korean government and the country's medical practitioners continue to clash over the former's medical reform plans that include expanding the number of medical school admissions.<br />Heads of medical students and trainee doctors' associations launched an emergency body of young doctors this week to counter the government's tough stance on the nationwide walk-out by thousands of trainee doctors.<br />They've been urging the government to withdraw its plans and re-negotiate from square one.<br />On top of this, they're also calling for the government to stipulate its plans in writing before they return to work.<br />"We pledge to immediately rgo back to work once we reach an agreement with the government to stipulate in writing its plan to scrap policies and to re-negotiate from the start."<br />The government, on the other hand, says it will engage in candid dialogue if trainee doctors come up with a suitable alternative.<br />"The government has already unconditionally halted forwarding policies on expanding the medical school admissions quota to the Education Ministry, and all options will be open after we overcome the COVID-19 crisis."<br />During the strike,... the government is also mulling over dispatching army doctors to private hospitals.<br />The health ministry reportedly made a request to the defense ministry,... and more than 20 army doctors are expected to be mobilized across infectious disease designated hospitals in Seoul and Incheon.<br />Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.<br />
