Head of doctors’ group begins hunger strike amid protracted walkout by junior doctors

The head of an association of community doctors said Monday he has launched an indefinite hunger strike, calling for the government and lawmakers to make efforts to end a disruption of public health services. The hunger strike by Lim Hyun-taek, president of the Korea Medical Association (KMA), came as a prolonged walkout by trainee doctors has shown little signs of a breakthrough as they left their worksites in late February in protest of the government's plan to boost the number of medical students. "The medical system is on the brink of collapse, with people's lives remaining utterly vulnerable," Lim said. Lim also condemned the government for demonizing doctors and delivering misleading messages to the public, which has led trainee doctors and medical students to leave hospitals for more than six months. "We urge the president and parliament, for the last time, to make a decision to put an end to this medical crisis," Lim added. Despite fierce protests by trainee doctors, the government has already f inalized a plan to increase the medical school quota by about 1,500 students next year in an effort to address the shortage of doctors in essential services. Source: Yonhap News Agency