Discussion on Expanding Medical School Quotas Begins… Government Urges "KMA to Quickly Establish Principles and Plans"

Medical Issues Consultative Body Meeting
Photo by Yonhap News

The issue of expanding medical school quotas has become a major agenda item in negotiations between the government and the Korea Medical Association (KMA). The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that it held the 10th Medical Issues Consultative Body meeting with the KMA at 3 p.m. today to discuss the expansion of medical school quotas.

Lee Hyung-hoon, Director of Health and Medical Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated, "There have been cases where emergency patients have died because they could not find a hospital even after riding in an ambulance. To resolve this, innovation in the emergency medical system must be accompanied by an increase in the number of doctors."

This is the first time since the consultative body was formed in January that the expansion of medical school quotas has been a key agenda item in medical issues. Although the Ministry and the KMA have met more than ten times through the consultative body, discussions were postponed due to medical issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nursing Act, and telemedicine.

Lee pointed out, "We requested the KMA to respond to the social task of increasing medical school quotas, but this discussion is still considered taboo within the medical community."

He added, "We propose that the KMA prepare specific principles, plans, and schedules for increasing the number of doctors as soon as possible in the consultative body meetings. The government promises to form an expert forum on medical workforce supply and demand, including medical professionals, by June to promote scientific and evidence-based discussions on increasing the number of doctors."

Challenges are expected. Lee Kwang-rae, President of the Incheon Medical Association and a KMA attendee, said, "There is a prevailing atmosphere that expanding medical school quotas is the only response, but even if quotas increase, it will take 13 years to see the results. Measures must be prepared for the interim period."

He continued, "Even if medical school quotas increase in the 2025 academic year, students will choose their specialties 6 to 7 years later. It is important not to rely solely on increasing quotas but to create an environment where medical students and interns can apply to essential medical departments."