Assemblyman Kim Won-i: "Expanding Medical School Quotas and Establishing New Medical Schools Are the Answers"

Ministry of Health and Welfare Announces Essential Medical Support Measures... "No Concrete Discussions"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced support measures for essential medical fields such as severe cases, emergency, childbirth, and pediatrics on the 31st of last month.

In response, Representative Kim Won-i stated, “While they try to expand the scope of exemption related to medical accidents, it is very regrettable that there is no concrete discussion on increasing the number of doctors and establishing new medical schools to overcome essential medical care and regional medical disparities.”

Democratic Party of Korea Representative Kim Won-i (Health and Welfare Committee, Mokpo City) [Photo by Representative Kim Won-i's Office]

Rep. Kim explained, “Jeonnam is the only region in the country without a medical school. The number of doctors per 1,000 people is only 1.67 in Jeonnam, compared to the national average of 2.04 and 3.14 in Seoul,” adding, “The outflow rate of severe emergency patients to other cities and provinces is 48.9%, the highest in the country, and Jeonnam accounts for the largest number of 17 out of 98 vulnerable emergency medical areas nationwide.”

He particularly noted, “Jeonnam is home to 276 inhabited islands, which is 59% of the national total, and among them, 161 islands have no doctors,” and lamented, “It is the first region in the country to enter a super-aged society with the elderly population at 25%, the highest nationwide, and also has the highest per capita medical expenses.”

He continued, “To resolve medical inequality and regional medical disparities in Jeonnam, it is necessary to establish a medical school in the Jeonnam area and expand the quota for doctors accordingly.”

He also stated, “Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong gave a positive response to questions about increasing the number of doctors and establishing a medical school in the Jeonnam area during last year’s national audit.”

Rep. Kim Won-i said, “The establishment of a medical school is a long-standing wish and aspiration of the citizens of Mokpo,” and urged, “The Ministry of Health and Welfare should immediately present a concrete plan to expand the number of doctors and clearly allocate the expanded quota for the establishment of a medical school in the Jeonnam area.”

He added, “In the February extraordinary session of the National Assembly, I plan to deliver a five-minute speech targeting the government on the issue of establishing a medical school and to rigorously question it in the standing committee.”