Vice Minister of Welfare, "Protection Needed for Those Involved in Decision to Increase Staff"
The court handling the injunction appeal regarding the increase in medical school admissions has requested the government to provide supporting data for the 'increase of 2,000 students,' drawing attention to whether the minutes and member list of the 'Medical School Quota Allocation Committee,' formed to distribute the medical school quotas, will also be submitted. The government stated it would "organize and submit the data as much as possible" in response to the court's request for evidence supporting the increase of 2,000 medical students, but showed caution regarding the disclosure of the committee member list, saying "deliberation is necessary."
On the morning of the 3rd, Park Min-su, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said at a briefing of the 'Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for Doctors' Collective Action' held at the Government Seoul Office, "We have been asked to submit necessary materials such as minutes showing the process and procedures through which the allocation (of increased quotas by university) was decided. We will organize and submit the data to the extent requested by the court as much as possible."
On the 30th of last month, the court requested scientific evidence for setting the medical school quota increase at 2,000, saying, "Please submit how the number 2,000 was derived. If there are initial meeting materials, minutes, or similar documents, please provide them." The Ministry of Health and Welfare expressed its intention to submit related materials, including the physician supply projection report, stating that it is "fully possible to present" such evidence. Accordingly, the government is expected to submit research reports from the Korea Development Institute (KDI), which have been cited multiple times, as well as research results from the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs and papers by Professor Hong Yoon-chul of Seoul National University College of Medicine.
However, the government has shown caution regarding the submission of the member list of the Medical School Quota Allocation Committee, which distributes the 2,000 additional spots to each university. The government has not disclosed the attendance list or discussion process of the quota allocation committee in detail. The Ministry of Education stated in a briefing last month that "sharing the composition and schedule of the allocation committee could undermine fairness," and thus kept the specific committee composition, meeting methods, and criteria confidential.
On this day, Vice Minister Park said, "The member list requires protection for those who participated in the decision-making," adding, "Therefore, we will deliberate further before deciding on the disclosure of the member list."
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Welfare predicted that there would be "no major disruption such as a complete suspension of medical services" in relation to some professors at 'Big 5' hospitals, including Seoul Asan Medical Center and Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, taking one day off per week starting from this day, as professor leave spreads.
Vice Minister Park said, "Following the decision by the medical school professors' group to take one day off per week, some professors expressed their intention to take leave on May 3rd, but no major disruption such as a complete suspension of medical services is expected."
He added, "The government will closely monitor the medical field to ensure that severe and emergency patients do not feel anxious due to the doctors' collective action, and will strengthen communication with each medical institution."
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