[News Terms] 'Local Doctor System Introduction Act' Passed by the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee

The 'Regional Doctor System Introduction Act' is a law centered on creating a separate selection process for regional doctors, where students are selected and the state supports their tuition fees, requiring them to serve mandatory medical duty in medically underserved areas for a certain period. The exact name is the 'Act on the Training of Regional Doctors.'

On the 20th, the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee held a plenary session and put the 'Act on the Training of Regional Doctors' to a vote, passing it with 13 votes in favor, 2 against, and 7 abstentions out of 22 members present.

Medical staff performing surgery. [Photo by Pixabay]

The government and the ruling party took the position that they wanted to fully discuss various issues after the current policy to expand medical school quotas is finalized, but the opposition party pushed for a vote, arguing that this policy is necessary to expand regional medical infrastructure regardless of the medical school quota expansion policy.

This bill is a consolidated alternative bill prepared by merging and reviewing the 'Regional Doctor Act' proposed by Kwon Chil-seung of the Democratic Party and the 'Act on the Training of Regional Doctors' proposed by Kim Won-i of the Democratic Party.

The enactment bill mandates that regional talents who enter regional medical schools receive scholarships and are required to work in medical services in the respective region for 10 years after graduation. The bill includes not only doctors but also dentists and Korean medicine doctors within the scope of regional doctors. The selection process requires that graduates of high schools located in the region of the medical school be selected at a rate above a percentage determined by presidential decree. It also includes a provision that if the 10-year mandatory service is violated, the scholarship amount plus statutory interest must be repaid.

Minister of Health and Welfare Kyoohong Cho.
Photo by Yonhap News

Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare, stated at the plenary session that day, "The Regional Doctor System Act uses the shortage of medical personnel as a key criterion, but there are many issues such as how to define medical personnel, whether the 10-year service period is appropriate, and restrictions on residency training subjects," adding, "In-depth discussion on these matters is necessary."

He also pointed out, "Looking at the detailed provisions of the bill, it requires selecting graduates of high schools in regions with medical schools at a rate above that determined by presidential decree, which may put students from local governments without medical schools at a relatively disadvantageous position."

He continued, "Since the scale of medical school admission quotas after 2025 has not yet been concretized, setting the selection rate of regional doctors by presidential decree could cause further confusion," and said, "I hope this bill will be reviewed again after sufficient discussion."