Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok Appeals for New Medical School in Jeonnam

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, appealed to "establish a medical school in Jeonnam, the only province in the country without a medical school, to guarantee the health rights of the residents."

In an appeal on the 4th, Governor Kim stated, "The Korean Medical Association has decided to stop collective action and return to medical practice," and "Along with 2 million residents, we welcome the great decision by medical staff to resume treatment amid the serious situation of the COVID-19 spread."

He continued, "In July, the government and ruling party announced plans to actively promote the establishment of medical schools in regions without medical schools," but "due to the agreement between the Korean Medical Association and the government and ruling party to reconsider from scratch, Jeonnam residents are greatly concerned that even the establishment of a medical school in Jeonnam may be negatively affected."

Governor Kim asserted, "Jeonnam has the highest proportion of vulnerable medical groups nationwide, with 22.6% elderly population and 7.6% disabled population, and it has the most islands, making medical accessibility very poor, so a medical school is absolutely necessary," adding, "Annually, 800,000 people receive medical treatment in other cities and provinces to get medical services at the level of tertiary general hospitals, and even during the COVID-19 situation, severe patients are treated in other regions due to the absence of university hospitals in Jeonnam."

He also said, "The establishment of a medical school in Jeonnam has been a long-standing wish of the residents for over 30 years, consistently requested to the government and medical community, and is also supported by the local medical community," and appealed, "The Korean Medical Association and the government and ruling party should understand the desperate feelings of Jeonnam residents, the only province without a medical school among all cities and provinces nationwide, and ensure that the establishment of a medical school in Jeonnam is definitely included in future medical policy council discussions so that the health rights of residents can be guaranteed."

Furthermore, he added, "Please continue to show great interest and support until the establishment of the medical school is completed, just as you have gathered strength so far to realize the earnest desire for the establishment of a medical school in Jeonnam."

Meanwhile, on the 4th, the Korean Medical Association and the government and ruling party signed a policy agreement document to fundamentally resolve issues in the medical system and overcome COVID-19 under the common goal of the health of the people and the development of the healthcare system.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.