Medical Professors Recall 1997 Crisis Denial... Call to Halt Medical Student Increase

by Choi Taewon

Published 30 Aug.2024 10:43(KST)

Updated 30 Aug.2024 14:13(KST)

"Increased Staffing Will Not Restore Korean Healthcare"

The Emergency Committee of Professors of Medical Schools Nationwide (Jeon-ui-bi) argued that if the increase in medical school admissions is enforced, Korean healthcare will not recover.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 30th, Jeon-ui-bi stated in a press release, "If early application for the 2025 admissions begins on September 9 with the increased quota, there will be no hope left for Korean healthcare," adding, "While the International Monetary Fund (IMF) foreign exchange crisis was overcome in four years, if the increase proceeds as planned, Korean healthcare will never return."

They continued, "Watching the president's press conference denying any healthcare crisis reminded us of 1997, when the foreign exchange crisis was confidently denied until 20 days before it happened," and added, "The medical disaster is not only a problem in rural areas and emergency rooms; now, a nationwide healthcare collapse, including Seoul and the metropolitan area, has begun."

They criticized President Yoon Seok-yeol for causing the medical disaster, stating, "The collapse of regional and essential healthcare is not due to a shortage of doctors," and "After creating a system where only non-essential departments generate profits, are you now inciting the public by claiming that essential departments are neglected due to doctor shortages and that increasing medical school admissions will fill essential departments through a trickle-down effect?"

Furthermore, they urged, "The National Assembly must immediately conduct a government audit to make the government face reality," and "Through this, the government should punish those responsible, regain trust from residents and students, and engage in dialogue."

They emphasized, "The court must issue a suspension order on the increase of 2,000 medical school admissions to protect public health and prevent the collapse of Korean healthcare," and "The increase must be stopped immediately so that residents and students can have hope and focus on essential and regional healthcare."