Seoul — Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong appealed to the medical community on Thursday to back the government's plan to increase the medical school enrollment quota. The government is considering an expansion of over 1,000 additional slots to the existing 3,058 annual enrollment, aiming to alleviate doctor shortages and improve public health services.
As per Yonhap News Agency, the minister asserted that the expansion would only be carried out after adequate assessments of educational capacities of the medical schools. Cho also pledged that the government will work closely with the medical sector, experts, and patient organizations to formulate a comprehensive policy that benefits regional health care services. "We hope that the medical sector proactively engages in talks with the government," Cho added.