KMA: "Government to Participate in 'Medical Workforce Adjustment Council' in Next Year's Quota Discussions"

"Glad to Welcome the Autumn Organization... Obviously Should Have Done It First"
"Establishment of the 'Special Committee on All'... Discussion on Specific Future Struggle Plans"

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) announced that it will participate in the 'Supply and Demand Projection Expert Committee' (Expert Committee) to be formed by the government if discussions on the medical school admission quota for 2025 begin.

Choi Anna, spokesperson for the Korean Medical Association, is briefing on the results of the joint meeting, the Fair Trade Commission investigation, and the formation of a special committee on the 20th at the Korean Medical Association in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

On the 20th at 3 p.m., Anna Choi, spokesperson for the KMA, held a briefing at the KMA headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, stating, "The projection body mentioned by the Medical Reform Special Committee (Medical Reform SPC) is very welcome. It should have been done earlier. If discussions start now on the medical school admission quota for 2025, we will definitely participate."

She added, "However, the 2,000 quota announced in February was found to have no scientific basis according to the ruling. If the quota increases by 1,500 next year, irreversible problems will arise in the educational field. If discussions begin from next year's quota, we will certainly participate."

Earlier that day, the government held the 4th Medical Reform Special Committee meeting at the Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and announced plans to form an expert-centered 'Supply and Demand Projection Expert Committee' to enhance the scientific expertise and social acceptability of workforce supply and demand projections.

It was also announced at the 5th joint meeting held the previous day that a 'Special Committee for Proper Medical Care' (Special Committee) will be established under the KMA. Spokesperson Choi said, "It will be operated under a co-chair system with three co-chairs: a medical school professor, a resident, and a representative of the city and provincial medical associations. At the first meeting, we will collect the status and plans of hospital strikes nationwide and discuss specific future protest plans."

The Special Committee will consist of 14 members: three co-chairs, three professor representatives, three resident representatives, two representatives from city and provincial medical associations, one medical student member, and two KMA executives. Spokesperson Choi explained, "Residents have not been part of the discussion structure so far because they felt their opinions were not sufficiently reflected in the committee. Resident members participating in the Special Committee will have equal status with professors, and all decisions will be made unanimously by the 14 members."

Meanwhile, the first meeting of the Special Committee is scheduled for 2 p.m. on the 22nd at the KMA headquarters. However, although the KMA sent official letters requesting nominations for resident representatives and medical student members to the Korean Intern Resident Association and the Korean Medical School and Graduate Medical School Student Association, no responses have been received yet.