SEOUL - Prime Minister Han Duck-soo announced on Friday the crucial need for increasing the number of medical personnel, specifically in pediatrics and emergency care. The statement comes as part of an ongoing effort to address a shortage of essential medical service providers.
Yonhap News Agency reports that the government is considering increasing the annual enrollment quota at medical schools by more than 1,000, from the current 3,058, starting in 2025. "Failure to increase enrollment now will pose a more significant threat to our society, given it takes 10 years to become a specialist after entering medical school," Han said.
The comments were echoed by President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday, who also stressed the need for more medical personnel in preparation for South Korea's transition to a super-aged society.
However, Han noted that increasing enrollment alone would not fully resolve the issues of inadequate healthcare in remote areas and shortages in essential sectors like pediatrics. According to the OECD's Health Statistics 2023, South Korea had only 2.6 physicians per 1,000 people in 2021, significantly below the 38-member state average of 3.7.
To address these challenges, the government is considering various solutions, including personnel reassignment and pricing adjustments for medical services. Doctors have strongly opposed these plans, advocating for better resource allocation and increased compensation instead. Han assured that the government would continue to coordinate closely with the medical sector.