Korea’s Medical Vacuum Grows As Doctors Threaten Indefinite Walkout

Pharma Feeling Impact

Long-running protests by South Korean doctors against government reforms, including raising medical school admissions, continue to intensify with a one-day rally by community doctors and the threat of an indefinite walkout later this month. The pharma industry is also feeling the impact on clinical trials and sales. 

doctors' strike
Pharma Industry Feeling Brunt Of Doctors’ Prolonged Protest • Source: Shutterstock

The long-running tug of war between medical professionals in South Korea and the government shows no signs of abating, with a reported 10,000 doctors staging a one-day rally in Seoul on 18 June to protest a medical system reform plan which includes raising the number of students admitted to medical school.

The months-long protest is only intensifying without any indications of a resolution in sight, causing disruptions to treatment and surgeries,...

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