Medical School Professors Warn "Forcing Medical School Expansion Will Lead to Healthcare Collapse"

"Beyond a Simple Policy Failure: A Serious Crisis Shaking the Foundation of the National Healthcare System"

Medical school professors warned that if the government pushes ahead with increasing the number of medical students, the country will face a medical collapse unlike anything experienced before.

The National Emergency Committee of Medical School Professors (Jeon-ui-bi) stated on the 26th in a press release, "The collapse of Korean healthcare caused by the government's unilateral policy has already begun," adding, "If the government does not immediately stop its misguided policy, we will experience a medical collapse never before seen."

They continued, "The reckless and unilateral increase in medical school admissions by the government is causing serious confusion throughout the medical community," and added, "This is a grave situation that shakes the foundation of the national healthcare system, beyond a mere policy failure."

They also claimed that even professors exhausted by excessive workloads are leaving hospitals one by one, putting the field in a serious crisis. Medical students are continuing to refuse classes, and it is expected that almost no new doctors will be produced next year.

They said, "From next year, the production of new doctors and specialists will be halted, leading to the collapse of Korean healthcare centered on essential medical services," and added, "Although this is a situation anyone can foresee, the government is neglecting to prepare countermeasures and is merely standing by."

Furthermore, they warned, "The government is trying to conceal the problem with unrealistic medical school 'academic flexibility operation guidelines' while ignoring the crisis," and cautioned, "Attempts to make up for six months of suspended education and training in a short period will seriously undermine the competence of medical professionals."

They stated, "If doctors who have received insufficient education are deployed to clinical settings, the risk of misdiagnosis and medical accidents will greatly increase," and urged, "The government should immediately approve students' leaves of absence and engage in sincere dialogue."

They also emphasized the need to resolve the issue through communication with the medical community. They said, "The government should not only fully reconsider the policy to increase medical school admissions but also seriously consider the demands of the medical community," and added, "The National Assembly should recognize the seriousness of this situation, conduct a government audit, and thoroughly investigate the policy implementation process to strictly punish those responsible."

They concluded, "Professors will continue to strive on the front lines to maintain essential medical services that the government has abandoned for the sake of public health," and earnestly requested, "We sincerely ask the public and politicians from all parties to stop the government's unilateral policy and prevent the collapse of healthcare."