"Medical School Quotas to Be Reviewed by Estimation Committee Directly Under Minister of Health and Welfare"... Passed in Legislative Subcommittee

A majority of the 15 committee members to be recommended by the medical community
Next year's medical school admissions quota to be decided by university presidents by the end of April

The bill related to the Medical Workforce Supply and Demand Estimation Committee (Estimation Committee), which deliberates on the quota for medical schools, has passed the 1st Subcommittee on Bill Examination of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee. Although members of the ruling and opposition parties on the Welfare Committee explained that the opinions of medical associations were reflected as much as possible to resolve conflicts between the medical profession and the government, opposition from the medical community remains strong, and difficulties are expected.

On the 27th, before the 1st Subcommittee on Bill Review of the Health and Welfare Committee held at the National Assembly, Park Min-su, the 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare (right), is seen conversing with an official. Photo by Yonhap News.

On the 27th, the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee held the 1st Subcommittee on Bill Examination and passed an amendment to the Framework Act on Health and Medical Services, which centers on having the Estimation Committee directly under the government review the quota for doctors.

The amendment defines the Estimation Committee as an independent deliberative body under the Minister of Health and Welfare, with up to 15 members, of whom the majority are to be recommended by medical providers such as the Korean Medical Association. The chairperson is to be elected from among experts recommended by academia.

However, for the 2026 academic year medical school quota only, a special provision was established allowing each university president to autonomously set the recruitment quota by April 30 of this year within the scope agreed upon by the Minister of Education and the Minister of Health and Welfare. This is because there is limited time to deliberate on next year's medical school quota. The provision also includes that the dean of the medical school may provide opinions to the university president during this process.

Medical associations such as the Korean Medical Association and the Korean Intern Resident Association still oppose having the Estimation Committee under the Minister of Health and Welfare and discussing the 2026 academic year quota at the Estimation Committee.

Members of the ruling and opposition parties on the Welfare Committee currently hold the position that establishing scientific grounds for estimating the doctor quota is the most important. Kim Mi-ae, the ruling party secretary of the Welfare Committee and a member of the People Power Party, explained, "We tried our best to reflect the opinions of the medical community," adding, "It is a priority to enable the Estimation Committee to perform its original function. Since the medical community said that expertise and scientific evidence are necessary, we included provisions to guarantee this."