Call to Halt the Policy of Expanding Medical School Quotas
Doctors in the Gyeongnam region took to the streets in protest against the government's plan to increase medical school quotas.
The Gyeongsangnam-do Medical Association held a rally on the 22nd in front of Jeongwoo Shopping Center in Changwon, Gyeongnam, urging the suspension of the medical school quota expansion policy.
The Gyeongnam Medical Association is urging the government to halt the policy of expanding medical school quotas and to reconsider it from the beginning. [Photo by Lee Seryeong]
They argued, "It is reckless to increase the current quota of 3,058 by more than 65%, adding 2,000 students annually, without consulting the Medical Association."
They explained, "Although the increase in medical school quotas is justified by a shortage of doctors, this is a mistaken judgment. The absolute number of doctors needed for public health is sufficient, but there is a shortage of doctors working in essential medical fields due to a flawed healthcare system."
They added, "Our country ranks among the best in the world in all indicators such as surgery waiting times, doctor density differences, life expectancy, infant mortality rate, cancer mortality rate, circulatory disease mortality rate, and COVID-19 medical response. If there were truly a shortage of doctors, would it be possible to see a specialist within 30 minutes on the same day in most areas except some rural regions?"
The Gyeongnam Medical Association is urging the government to halt the policy of expanding medical school quotas and to reconsider it from the beginning. [Photo by Lee Seryeong]
The Gyeongnam Medical Association stated, "Even if the number of doctors increases, the imbalance in essential and regional healthcare will not be resolved," and "Without a significant increase in medical fees and the enactment of a Medical Accident Special Act to reduce excessive criminal lawsuits, the number of doctors may increase, but essential medical personnel will still be insufficient."
They elaborated, "The government's forced expansion of medical school quotas is like cutting open the goose that lays golden eggs. Private education to send children to medical schools will only become more active, and not only will health insurance premiums skyrocket, but patients may also have to wait weeks or months for consultations or surgeries."
The Gyeongnam Medical Association took off their white coats, which they were wearing to express their opposition to the government's medical school expansion policy, and placed them on the floor. [Photo by Lee Seryeong]
Specialists raised their voices, saying, "The expansion of medical school quotas pushed forward without concrete plans or preparations will collapse essential medical services and the local healthcare system," and "If you truly care about Korean healthcare, please take a more sober look at the current situation and reconsider from the beginning."
Chairman Choi Seong-geun said, "Our Gyeongnam Medical Association wants the government to re-discuss the essential medical package policy, including the expansion of medical school quotas, from scratch," and "We will fight to the end until our demands are accepted."
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