Seoul

South Korea’s Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong, on Monday, said that the government plans to deploy more medical staff as senior doctors at five major hospitals in Seoul decided to take a weekly day off starting this week.

Cho also renewed a pledge to accomplish medical reform, although a mass walkout by trainee doctors has crippled public health services at major hospitals for more than two months, source reported.

The government will further strengthen the emergency treatment system by sending more medical personnel to prevent damage to patients because of sudden resignations or leaves of absence by medical professors, Cho told at a government response meeting.

Cho said that the government will unwaveringly push for medical reform, while calling for senior and junior doctors to stop their collective action against the government’s plan to hike the number of medical students.

Last week, medical professors working for South Korea’s five major hospitals Asan Medical Center, Samsung Medical Center, Severance Hospital, Seoul National University Hospital, and Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital decided to suspend their work either on a day, or every week. Asan centre professors vowed not to work on Tuesday and Friday, and professors for Samsung and St. Mary’s hospitals are discussing exactly when to take a day off, the report said