Gyeongnam Medical Association, Reasons for Saying "Establishment of Changwon National University Medical School Not Possible"

Changwon City, Population 3.34 Million Gyeongnam Province Doctor Training "Gyeongsang National University Medical School Alone Is Insufficient" Pointed Out
Medical Association, "Improvement of Treatment and Expansion of Workforce to Focus Solely on Med

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Choi Hyun-joo] As the government, Gyeongsangnam-do, Changwon City, and local governments along with the Korea Hospital Association actively support the establishment of Changwon National University College of Medicine and are reviewing specific project plans, the Gyeongnam Medical Association is strongly condemning the establishment of the medical school, drawing attention to the background of this opposition.

On the 30th, the Gyeongnam Medical Association stated to Gyeongsangnam-do and Changwon City, which are promoting the establishment of Changwon National University College of Medicine, that "there is a need to present clear evidence such as statistics regarding the claim that the number of local doctors is absolutely insufficient and that citizens are actually in blind spots of medical benefits, as well as the future vision of the ‘regional doctor system’ policy operation."

The Medical Association said, “First, the government and local governments cite the shortage of doctors as the primary reason for the necessity of establishing a medical school,” adding, “The real issue is not the shortage of doctors but the urgent need for improved treatment so that doctors can focus solely on medical activities and the expansion of medical personnel. The establishment of a medical school should be pursued only after these problems are resolved.”

Furthermore, the Medical Association expressed concern that although the government and local governments intend to improve public health by introducing the regional doctor system to prevent citizens from being excluded from public healthcare, unless the treatment of public health doctors working in health centers and other facilities is improved first, even if medical personnel are trained locally, they will eventually leave the region.

The regional doctor system includes provisions such as ‘mandatory service’ requiring doctors trained in the region to work in the area for at least 10 years. The Medical Association questioned to what extent doctors trained locally would comply with the regional doctor system and whether there are plans to operate research institutions after the medical school is established.

On the other hand, Changwon City justified the promotion of establishing Changwon National University College of Medicine by citing ▲ stable supply of medical personnel according to the plan to establish a public medical institution in western Gyeongsangnam-do ▲ strengthening of the public medical sector through the introduction of the regional doctor system ▲ activation of medical and biomedical industry and academic research.

According to the city, in Jeonnam and Gwangju with a population of 3.3 million, there are two university hospitals in Gwangju, and the establishment of a medical school in the Jeonnam region has already been decided. In contrast, Gyeongnam, with a population of about 3.34 million, currently supplies medical personnel concentrated in only one medical school, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, which admits only 79 students.

It also pointed out that while Jeonnam, which has no medical school, has 2.5 doctors per population, Gyeongnam has 2.3 doctors per population, which is relatively insufficient, arguing that concentrating doctor training only at Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine is unreasonable.

The city expects that once the regional doctor system is firmly established, doctors trained locally will settle in the region and carry out medical activities stably, significantly improving the weaknesses in the public medical sector and allowing citizens easier access to public healthcare. Changwon National University also intends to strengthen the public medical sector once the medical school is established.

A Changwon City official emphasized, “The establishment of the medical school will naturally activate the local medical industry sector,” adding, “It is not simply about increasing the number of doctors, but it provides an opportunity to contribute to the local economy through the achievements of the medical industry.”

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