Survey Results from Seoul Medical Association
Younger Doctors More Opposed to Increasing Medical School Quotas
A recent survey revealed that 8 out of 10 doctors oppose the increase in medical school admissions, a contentious issue closely watched not only by the medical community but also by the education sector.
On the 6th, the Seoul Medical Association held a press conference at its association hall located in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, to announce the results of a survey conducted from the 20th to the 27th of last month among 7,972 members affiliated with the Seoul Medical Association.
The survey participants included ▲2,935 professors ▲2,303 private practitioners ▲1,715 employed doctors (doctors working in clinics or hospitals receiving a salary) ▲848 interns and residents ▲171 others (on leave, retired, etc.).
According to the survey results, about 77% (6,125 out of 7,972) opposed the expansion of medical school quotas.
Despite attaching the condition that essential medical measures such as agreed-upon fee increases and relief from litigation burdens between the government and the medical community must be implemented first, respondents firmly expressed that medical school quotas should not be increased.
Younger Doctors More Opposed to Medical School Expansion... 92% Say 'No Increase'
In particular, the opinion of fundamentally opposing medical school expansion was more prevalent among younger doctors such as interns and residents.
By professional category, the percentage opposing medical school expansion even if essential medical measures are prioritized was ▲interns and residents 92% ▲others 81% ▲employed doctors 84% ▲private practitioners 75% ▲professors 70%.
The reasons for opposing the increase in medical school admissions (multiple responses allowed) included ▲expanding medical school quotas is not a solution to essential medical care (95%) ▲increased medical costs and harm to public health due to oversupply of doctors (56%) ▲concerns about the decline in science and industry due to the departure of science and engineering students (48%).
Park Myeong-ha, president of the Seoul Medical Association, said, "Even though we asked whether doctors would support increasing medical school admissions once the government’s essential medical measures were implemented as a prerequisite, a staggering 77% of doctors expressed fundamental opposition," adding, "This proves that simply increasing medical school quotas is not the solution."
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