Gov’t to fully allow telemedicine services in case of doctors’ collective action: PM

SEOUL, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Monday that the government will fully expand telemedicine services if doctors walk off their jobs in protest of the government's plan to increase medical school admissions. Thousands of trainee doctors, such as residents at Seoul's five major general hospitals, were poised to submit their resignations en masse later Monday, raising concerns it would cripple hospital operations and patient care. The envisioned collective action is part of a protest against the government's decision to add 2,000 slots to the country's medical school enrollment quota next year, a significant increase from the current 3,058 seats. "To ensure that chronic and mild patients face no difficulties in accessing medical facilities during the period of collective action, (the government) plans to fully permit non-contact medical consultations," Han said during an emergency meeting with relevant ministers. Han also reaffirmed the government's intention to designate a total of 409 hospitals with emergency rooms to be on emergency alert mode, aiming to minimize potential disruptions in the care of emergency patients. The five hospitals -- Asan Medical Center, Samsung Medical Center, Severance Hospital, Seoul National University Hospital and Seoul St. Mary's Hospital -- have been pivotal in providing critical medical care across the country. The government has vowed to take firm action against any collective actions by doctors that threaten patient safety. Source: Yonhap News Agency