◀Anchor▶
The government has unusually allowed hospitals to recruit additional resident doctors in May to encourage those who resigned to return.
Hospitals are currently accepting applications, but looking at hospitals where deadlines have passed, there are virtually no applicants.
Many of the residents have already found employment as general practitioners or have joined the military, so other hospitals that are still recruiting aren’t expected to see much difference.
This report is by reporter Jo Jae-han.
◀Reporter▶
A training hospital in Daegu announced a recruitment of 50 additional resident doctors.
The application deadline was May 26th, but no applications were received.
Another training hospital announced that they were recruiting about 200 people, yet it is reported that there are hardly any applicants.
Other hospitals that have not yet closed the application period have contacted former residents directly or indirectly, but it appears that there is little interest in returning.
◀Training Hospital Official▶
“We continue to communicate with the resident representing our hospital, but there hasn’t been any good news about their return.”
According to recently released data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, as of the end of March, 61.4% of the approximately 8,700 residents who resigned were re-employed at clinics and hospitals.
Among them, only 107, a mere 2%, were in Daegu.
Additionally, a substantial number have either already enlisted in the military or are about to enlist.
Moreover, with expected changes in medical policy following the presidential election, there is a significant wait-and-see attitude among them.
◀Medical Sector Official▶
“For many of the residents, nothing substantial has changed. They feel that they wasted a year and a half without any resolution.”
The government has allowed the rare recruitment of residents in May, calling it the last chance for senior residents to qualify for the specialist exam.
However, with ongoing conflicts between the government and the medical community and anticipated significant changes in medical policies due to the political climate, there is no significant movement toward the return of the former residents.
This is MBC News, Jo Jae-han. (Filmed by Lee Dong-sam)