Call for the Establishment of a National Medical School
3rd Pan-Regional Civic Meeting to Be Held on the 24th
The discussion on establishing a national medical school in North Gyeongsang Province, a long-cherished goal of the region, is gaining further momentum. The North Gyeongsang Province National Medical School Establishment Pan-Regional Promotion Committee (headed by Lee Yonguk) will hold the 3rd Pan-Regional Civic Organizations Meeting on the 24th in the main conference room of the annex at the main building of Kyungpook National University, further solidifying the foundation for cooperation to normalize the local healthcare system.
This meeting is being held about five months after the second meeting in June, with around 30 participants including civic organizations from North Gyeongsang and Andong, the Kyungguk University Alumni Association, President Jeong Taejoo, and university executives.
The participants plan to closely examine the specific realities of medical vulnerability in North Gyeongsang Province and engage in in-depth discussions on the necessity of establishing a national medical school as a solution to address regional healthcare imbalances.
The meeting will focus on identifying practical action items, centering on the following: the structural limitations of the healthcare environment in North Gyeongsang Province; a report on current issues in promoting the establishment of a national medical school; and plans for collaborative cooperation between the local community, the university, and local governments.
This is expected to serve as a platform for public discourse aimed at expanding the foundation of public healthcare at the national level, going beyond a simple regional demand.
President Jeong Taejoo of Kyungguk University emphasized, "The current situation, in which high-quality medical services are concentrated in certain regions, is a national issue that can no longer be ignored," adding, "The university will continue to systematically prepare for the establishment of a national medical school together with the Pan-Regional Promotion Committee to safeguard the health rights of local residents."
Lee Yonguk, head of the Promotion Committee, added, "Only by uniting the efforts of civic organizations, the university, the local community, and local governments in one direction can we achieve the long-awaited goal of establishing a national medical school," stressing, "Continued participation and support are desperately needed for the future of healthcare in North Gyeongsang Province."
Meanwhile, Kyungguk University will hold a National Assembly forum on the establishment of a national medical school in North Gyeongsang Province on December 17 in the main conference room of the National Assembly Members' Office Building. The event is co-hosted by National Assembly members Lim Mi-ae and Kim Hyeongdong, and sponsored by North Gyeongsang Province and 22 cities and counties.
This forum will focus on diagnosing the structural imbalances in medically underserved areas such as North Gyeongsang Province and South Jeolla Province, and will bring together experts from various fields and the local community to discuss the national policy direction regarding the necessity of establishing a national medical school.
"The healthcare gap in North Gyeongsang Province can no longer remain a local issue. The discussion on establishing a national medical school has now emerged as a national agenda item that requires a decisive commitment at the state level."
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