Police to clamp down on striking doctors

The National Police Agency said Thursday that in the event of a renewal of hospital closures Friday as threatened by doctors, those who refuse to treat patients or obstruct the practice of other doctors will be dealt with sternly. It is planning to take strong legal action against doctors on strike who interfere with their colleagues continuing medical practice or defy an order from the local government to resume treating patients. Police officers will be deployed around clinics open to patients while patrol cars will be made available to transport patients requiring emergency care.

Police have already issued warrants for 16,512 doctors on charges of disobeying an order to provide medical treatment during the first and second strikes. Investigations of 12,840 of these offenders have been completed, it said.