Saeroun Mirae Proposes Mediation Plan to Increase Medical School Quotas by 15-20% Over 10 Years

The third party, Saeroun Mirae, proposed a mediation plan to increase medical school admissions by 15-20% annually over the next 10 years.

Lee Nak-yeon, co-representative of Saeroun Mirae, said at the Responsibility Committee meeting held at the Yeouido party headquarters on the morning of the 26th, "We must immediately stop the extreme confrontation that holds the lives of the people hostage," and added, "If the medical community thinks that increasing the number by 2,000 is unreasonable, they should present a realistic alternative."

Lee stated, "The government cannot solve the fundamental problem by merely focusing on numbers without establishing public medical infrastructure in local areas or adjusting medical fees," expressing concern that "this issue cannot be resolved by pushing through or cracking down."

He then explained, "We propose increasing medical school admissions by 15-20% annually over 10 years," adding, "Initially, the increase will range between 458 and 611 students."

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In addition, he proposed five measures including △establishing local national medical schools and mandating five additional years of medical practice in the respective regions after 10 years of service at public medical institutions △building regional public medical centers with over 500 beds △holding National Assembly standing committee meetings and hearings △forming a 'National Grand Compromise Committee' involving the government, political circles, medical community, and civil society.

Lee emphasized, "Expanding medical school admissions is an urgent task that can no longer be postponed. Despite the increasing medical demand due to the aging population, medical school admissions have remained unchanged for 19 years," and added, "Local healthcare is on the verge of collapse, and large regional hospitals cannot recruit doctors even by offering annual salaries of 400 million won."

He appealed to the medical community, saying, "Doctors must not abandon their patients," and stated, "The public does not support doctors' collective actions. Consumer groups, civic organizations, and health care organizations have also issued statements opposing doctors' collective actions. The medical community must listen to criticism that it has not made efforts to resolve manpower shortages and imbalances and has instead exacerbated the problem."

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