2024-03-13 07:46:22
SEOUL, March 13 (Yonhap) — South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Wednesday that the government’s decision to increase enrollment in medical schools by 2,000 places in order to address the shortage of doctors is based on a scientific analysis.
More than 90 percent of the country’s 13,000 trainee doctors have resigned en masse, for almost a month, in protest of the Government’s decision, causing the cancellation of crucial surgeries and the paralysis of the medical system.
“It is regrettable that the medical community is now alleging a lack of scientific analysis and consultation,” Han said during a meeting with relevant officials at the Sejong government complex.
Han was referring to a study that predicts a shortage of around 10,000 doctors by 2035, and noted that universities have asked the Government to increase the number of medical schools.
Han said the government has decided to increase the number of admissions by 2,000, starting in 2025, taking into account the time needed for medical training.
The prolonged strike by interns and residents, who play crucial roles in assisting surgeries and emergency services at the five major hospitals, has intensified.
Professors at Seoul National University (SNU) medical school, one of the country’s five major general hospitals, have vowed to resign en masse next week if the government fails to propose “a reasonable solution” for the ongoing strike.
Professors at several other medical schools have also warned of doing the same if the Government does not agree to unconditional dialogue.
Han urged teachers to actively persuade their colleagues to return to the patients’ side, rather than engaging in “groundless” collective action.
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