Gyeongnam Provincial Council: "Gyeongnam Medical Service at Lowest Level, Medical School Establishment and Quota Expansion Inevitable"

Gyeongsang National University Medical School 200 Student Increase and Urging the Establishment of Changwon Medical School

"All 64 members of the Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly strongly urge the expansion of the admission quota for the Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine and the establishment of a medical school in the Changwon area."

On the 22nd, assembly members, including Kim Jin-bu, chairman of the Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly, gathered in front of the assembly building and shouted this.

The assembly members stated, "Gyeongnam is the fourth most populous province in the country, but 14 out of 18 cities and counties are designated as medically vulnerable areas for emergency care, indicating severe difficulties in accessing medical services within the region. Although four public hospitals are planned to be newly built, securing medical personnel is uncertain, making it impossible to guarantee stable opening and operation."

They continued, "The admission quota for medical schools and the number of doctors in the province are among the lowest nationwide," adding, "Only 76 doctors graduate from the single medical school in Gyeongnam, which has a population of 3.3 million."

"The number of doctors per 1,000 people is also lower than the national average of 2.18, standing at 1.74, and shortages of essential medical personnel in pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and emergency medicine are worsening," they appealed.

Members of the Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly are urging the establishment of a medical school in Changwon City and the expansion of medical school enrollment quotas.
[Photo by Lee Se-ryeong]

"To resolve this, expanding the number of doctors is inevitable," they emphasized the need to increase the admission quota of Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine by more than 200 and to establish a medical school in the Changwon area.

They added that institutional reforms such as expanding admission quotas centered on local medical schools, strengthening the selection of local talents, and implementing a regional doctor system must also be carried out.

They stated, "The only medical school in the province, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, has sufficient capacity to accommodate 200 students and is equipped with three training hospitals."

"Among metropolitan cities with populations over one million nationwide, Changwon is the only non-capital area without a medical school," they emphasized, "Establishing a medical school in the Changwon area will prevent the collapse of regional medical care, meet the medical demand in central Gyeongnam, and expand the benefits of quality medical services."

The assembly members raised their voices, saying, "Expanding the admission quota of Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine and establishing a medical school in Changwon will be the starting point to protect the health rights of the residents," and urged, "Please listen to the passionate wishes of the 3.3 million residents suffering from insufficient medical service environments."