President Yoon asks doctors to 'stop collective action'

Increasing medical school admissions by 2,000 is the minimum amount

Ask trainees who submitted collective resignation letters and medical students who have decided to take a collective leave of absence for cooperation

"Expansion is essential to foster medical scientists for biohealthcare and medical businesses"

President Yoon,

President Seok-Yul Yoon said, "Doctors should not hold the lives and health of the people hostage and take collective action, no matter what,” in response to doctors who submitted a collective resignation letter and medical students who decided to take a collective leave of absence in protest to the government’s plan to increase medical school admissions.

 

President Yoon made it clear that increasing the number of medical school seats by 2,000 is the minimum amount necessary to fill essential and regional medical gaps and to train medical scientists and medical entrepreneurs for the advanced bio-healthcare industry.

 

In other words, the president has directly expressed the position that there is no turning back, such as reducing the number of medical school admissions through collective action by doctors.

 

However, he also reaffirmed his commitment to continue government investment and support for essential fields, rural areas, and medical education, and that he will build an environment of trust by reducing judicial risks for doctors.

 

At 2 p.m.

 

on the 20th, President Yoon presided over the 9th Cabinet Meeting and made the above remarks regarding the increase in medical school admissions.

 

President Yoon pointed out that despite the government meeting with doctors' organizations 28 times to explain the inevitability of healthcare reform and promising measures such as reducing judicial risks for doctors, strengthening the compensation system for essential doctors, and supporting investment in regional healthcare, the public's health has been threatened by the resignation of doctors.

 

He criticized that by submitting resignations, which led to the cancellation of surgeries and postponement of cancer patients' operations, the doctors have abandoned their responsibilities and put the public's health at risk.

 

"Protecting the life and safety of the people is the reason for the existence of the state, along with national security and public safety.

 

It is the most basic constitutional responsibility of the government.

 

The state must protect the lives and health of the people by efficiently managing medical resources.

 

Doctors may not be public servants like soldiers or the police, but they must never deny care as a group.” The president also added that the need for healthcare reform in Korea has been long overdue.

 

He cited the case of a nurse at one of the Big 5 hospitals who collapsed on duty in July 2022 and died without being able to receive surgery due to the lack of doctors.

 

From President Yoon's view, the incident demonstrates the serious situation of essential medical care in Korea, and the urgent need for medical reform to train doctors for essential medical care, but 30 years have passed without any government being able to propose a solution.

 

"The demand for medical services is growing rapidly, but the supply is not keeping up with the demand.

 

The number of essential medical personnel has decreased even more significantly, and medical care in rural areas has collapsed accordingly.

 

This collapse of local essential medical care puts the health and safety of those living in rural areas at serious risk.” "Until now, the government has continuously failed to increase the medical school enrollment quota by even a single student.

 

Even if we increase the number from next year, the first medical school graduates will not graduate until 2031, and it will take at least 10 years to produce specialists to strengthen essential medical care.

 

It will not be until 2035 that the increase of 2,000 essential medical doctors will be realized." "Increasing the medical school enrollment quota is the need of the hour.

 

The arguments and fears that the quality of medical education will decline are not correct.

 

The government will continue to invest in and support medical education.

 

We are committed to the people and healthcare reform.

 

For local doctors who excel in cancer surgery and critical care, the government will publicize their performance and achievements widely and correct the blind preference for medical services in Seoul." He added, “Korea's medical capabilities are among the best in the world, but the reality of healthcare in rural areas is miserable.

 

Please join us in carrying out the healthcare reform that cannot be delayed.

 

We will create an environment where doctors can treat with confidence by fairly compensating local essential and serious medical care and reducing judicial risks.

 

Expanding medical schools is also essential to train medical scientists and medical entrepreneurs for the advanced bio-healthcare industry."