Doctors Announcing 'Jibdan Haengdong'... 89% of the Public Support Medical School Expansion

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"Regional Doctor System... Increase Compensation for Essential, Regional, and Public Roles"
Medical Association Votes on General Strike... Rally Today

As medical associations have announced plans to hold rallies opposing the government's push to increase medical school quotas, a survey revealed that the majority of the public supports the expansion of medical school admissions and does not back the doctors' collective actions.

The Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union (KHMU) held a press conference at a sit-in site in front of the National Assembly on the 17th to announce the survey results. According to the survey, 93.4% of respondents said, "The shortage of doctors in essential medical departments must be addressed," and 89.3% expressed support for "expanding medical school quotas." In a similar poll conducted by the union in early last month, 82.7% supported increasing medical school admissions, indicating a 6.6 percentage point rise within a month.

On the morning of November 21, at the National Health and Medical Industry Labor Union in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Na Sun-ja, chairperson of the Health and Medical Labor Union, announced the results of a public opinion survey on medical school quotas, the regional doctor system, and the establishment of public medical schools during a press conference urging the expansion of medical personnel, the introduction of the regional doctor system, and the establishment of public medical schools.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the scale of the increase, nearly half (47.4%) responded that it should be "1,000 or more." Additionally, 28.7% believed the number should increase by "2,000 or more," while 32.7% answered "between 100 and 1,000." Support for quota expansion was particularly high in Gangwon and Jeju (95.7%), Daegu and Gyeongbuk (93.8%), Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungcheong (91.6%), Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam (91.2%), and Gwangju and Jeolla (91.0%). Notably, in the Gangwon and Jeju regions, 32.4% of respondents said the increase should be 2,000 or more.

While the Korean Medical Association (KMA) is conducting a vote on whether to strike (collective refusal of medical services) until today, 85.6% of respondents said they "do not support the KMA's refusal to provide medical services or collective work stoppage." Furthermore, 71.9% stated they "do not support the KMA's stance opposing the government's medical school quota expansion." The KMA plans to hold a rally opposing the quota increase in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on the same day. Only 10.5% believed that "the decision-making authority over medical school quota expansion lies with the KMA," while 87.3% thought "the public and government should decide on the expansion."

The KHMU is a labor union representing various healthcare professionals, including nurses, with approximately 83,000 members. From the 6th to the 14th of this month, the union also conducted a survey among members working at 113 affiliated medical institutions to assess the shortage of doctors on the ground. Among respondents, 88.1% said "there is a shortage of doctors," and 95.0% reported "a lack of doctors on night and weekend duty." Additionally, 75.2% said they had to turn patients away or transfer them to other hospitals due to doctor shortages, and 37.6% reported having to close or limit emergency room operations for the same reason.

To address the workload gaps caused by the shortage of doctors, the union also conducted a survey on PA personnel (Physician Assistants) who handle some of the doctors' duties. The survey found that PA personnel numbered over 100 at Seoul Asan Medical Center (387), Chungnam National University Hospital (284), Ewha Medical Center (249), Gyeongsang National University Hospital (235), Ajou University Medical Center (137), Yeungnam University Medical Center (125), Jeonbuk National University Hospital (114), Wonju Yonsei Medical Center (111), Paik Hospital Busan area (Busan Paik Hospital and Haeundae Paik Hospital, 109), and Yesu Hospital (105).

Announcing the survey results, the union proposed five policy measures: ▲ expanding medical school quotas and supporting training ▲ implementing a regional doctor system ▲ establishing public medical schools ▲ strengthening support for essential, regional, and public healthcare ▲ improving the distorted medical system through measures such as tightening requirements for opening clinics, implementing a total hospital bed quota system, controlling non-reimbursable medical services, establishing an appropriate fee system, and fully reforming indemnity insurance. Na Soon-ja, chairperson of the KHMU, stated, "The government should not be swayed by doctors' opposition and obstinacy but should strongly pursue the policy to increase medical school quotas according to public demand," adding, "What the KMA should block is not the quota expansion but the collapse of quantity, regional, and public healthcare caused by the shortage of doctors."

Meanwhile, the survey released by the KHMU was conducted by the professional polling agency Southern Post on the 12th, targeting 1,016 adults aged 18 and over nationwide through telephone interviews (sampling error 95%, confidence level ±3.1 percentage points).

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