KMA President: "We Will Not Stand By If Even One Medical Student Is Expelled"

Kim Taekwoo, president of the Korean Medical Association, stated on the 10th, "If even a single medical student is expelled, we will unite the collective will of our members and will not stand by idly."

At a presidential policy proposal briefing held at the association's headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on this day, President Kim said, "The government is unfairly pressuring medical students without any procedural legitimacy," expressing his position.

Yonhap News Agency

Previously, the Ministry of Education announced that, based on data submitted by 40 medical schools nationwide regarding students who refused to attend classes, 8,305 students?representing 43% of all enrolled students?were confirmed as candidates for repeating a year, and 46 students were confirmed as candidates for expulsion.

Meanwhile, on this day, the association presented policy proposals under the key themes of growth, sustainability, and balance, including: innovation of medical governance; fostering global medical talent; development of future medical technologies and innovation in the medical industry; revitalization of primary care-centered healthcare and caregiving; establishment of a system for the stable provision of essential medical services; addressing regional disparities in healthcare; and prevention of medical disputes and restoration of trust in the medical field.

Specific proposals included the establishment of a new Ministry of Health, restructuring of the Health and Medical Policy Deliberation Committee, creation of a Global Medical Education Institute, implementation of a national responsibility system for essential medical training, promotion of multiple practice opportunities for essential medical personnel, reduction of the public health doctor service period by 24 months, and enactment of a special law on medical accidents.

President Kim stated, "For the normalization of healthcare and the future of Korean medicine, medical professionals must now take center stage," adding, "If we fail to provide a trustworthy educational environment and a vision for the future to medical students and residents, the century-long foundation of Korean healthcare will inevitably collapse."