Doctors Protest Against Government Plan to Increase Medical School Admissions in South Korea
Seoul, South Korea – Doctors and medical trainees in South Korea have been protesting against the government’s plan to increase the number of places available in medical schools. The government’s proposal aims to address the shortage of medical staff in the country, but many healthcare professionals believe this is not the most effective solution to the issue.
The government’s plan is to increase the number of places available in medical schools from the current 3,000 to around 5,000 starting from the next academic year, and continue to gradually increase admissions until 2035. The healthcare system in South Korea is largely private, and doctors working in the public sector are well compensated. However, the country still faces a shortage of medical professionals, particularly in more peripheral areas and essential healthcare sectors.
As of 2022, South Korea only had 2.6 active doctors per thousand people, below the average of 3.7 for Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. The plan to increase admissions to medical schools aims to alleviate the shortage of staff, especially in the country’s peripheral areas and in essential healthcare sectors, exacerbated by the aging population.
While the majority of the population supports this plan, many healthcare professionals are against it, citing concerns about increased competition and reduced income. Trade associations also argue that the government is overlooking the real problems that have made the medical profession unattractive in more peripheral areas, such as harsh working conditions and low wages.
The impact of the strike is yet to be fully understood, but the government has warned of potential delays in surgeries and gaps in care. President Yoon Suk-yeol has declared that the plan to increase admissions to medical schools is irreversible and has criticized the doctors’ strike, stating that it lacks sufficient motivation. The government has also indicated its readiness to resort to legal means to address the situation.
This is not the first time doctors in South Korea have protested against plans to increase medical school admissions. A similar strike occurred in 2020, which led to the government withdrawing the plan due to concerns about the impact of the protests on medical services during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The issue remains a contentious one, with healthcare professionals and the government at odds over the best approach to addressing the shortage of medical staff in South Korea. As the protests continue, the debate over the future of healthcare in the country is set to intensify.