Korea’s health ministry is asking a group of chief medical officers to launch an investigation into the planned strike

A hospital worker stands in front of kiosks in an empty waiting room at Seoul National University, June 17. Yonhap

The Health Ministry on Monday referred a major lobbying group for doctors to the antitrust authority for an investigation into allegedly forcing local doctors and other medical staff to join a planned strike this week against the government’s health care reform plan, officials said.

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) decided to hold a one-day strike on Tuesday in which local doctors and medical professors could participate, raising concerns of further disruptions to the country’s medical system, which is already reeling from a prolonged strike by trainee doctors that began in February.

In response, the health ministry reported the association to the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) for investigation because it allegedly mobilized community doctors to take part in collective action in violation of fair trade law, medical community officials say.

The Act prohibits business associations from unfairly disrupting the business activities of their members or restricting competition.

Each violation is punishable by a fine of up to 1 billion won ($724,300) for the organization. The heads of the organizations or other responsible persons face fines of up to 200 million won or three years in prison.

“We are carefully reviewing the matter to determine whether the group forced individual members to suspend hospital operations,” an FTC official said.

On Monday, medical professors at Seoul National University (SNU)-affiliated hospitals went on an indefinite strike in support of the ongoing strike by junior doctors protesting against the government’s increased medical school admission quota to address the country’s physician shortage. (Yonhap)