SEOUL — In a significant standoff with the South Korean government, medical professors are threatening mass resignations in response to plans to increase medical school enrollment quotas. This collective action highlights a deepening crisis in the nation's healthcare education sector.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the government is firm in its decision to expand the medical school enrollment by 2,000 slots, from the existing 3,058, to address the demands of the country's fast-aging population and the shortage of physicians in rural and critical care areas. However, this move has sparked a vehement backlash from the medical community, leading to nearly a month of strikes by thousands of interns and resident doctors.
The escalation of protests has now reached the academic echelons, with an emergency committee of medical professors announcing that faculty members from 16 medical schools are set to resign collectively on March 25, seeking to pressure the government into reconsidering its decision. These actions come amid claims that the increased quota will lead to a surplus of physicians, diluting the quality of medical education and services.
Vice Minister Park labeled the planned mass resignations as "blackmail" and expressed concerns over the potential for increased health insurance premiums without the proposed expansion in medical student numbers. Park emphasized the need to break the cycle of collective actions in the medical sector, asserting that such moves challenge the rule of law and compromise patient care.
The government maintains that the quota increase is essential for ensuring adequate healthcare coverage nationwide, especially in underserved areas. Conversely, the medical community continues to argue for improved conditions and protections for specialists, suggesting that these issues should be addressed before expanding enrollment numbers.
This standoff reflects broader tensions within South Korea's healthcare system, as professionals and policymakers grapple with balancing resource allocation, quality of care, and the future sustainability of medical services.