South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo recently announced that medical schools will have the autonomy to set their own admission quotas starting next year. This decision has sparked hope of resolving tensions in the medical field, following a prolonged strike by over 9,000 resident doctors. The government had previously planned to increase medical school enrollment quotas by 2,000 by 2025, with an additional 10,000 doctors expected by 2023. However, this policy was met with protests from medical students and professors who believed it would compromise the quality of care and increase healthcare costs for patients.
The government’s response to the strike was to revoke practice licenses and consider criminal sanctions against the striking doctors. However, this move only further escalated the crisis. The core issue of the strike was the government’s plan to increase the number of medical school students. While protestors believed this would compromise the quality of care and increase healthcare costs for patients, the government stated that increasing targets is essential to address demographic challenges posed by an aging population and the need for medical professionals in crucial sectors.
With a projection that nearly 30% of South Korea’s population will be 65 years or older by 2035, there is a growing demand for medical services. The shortage of doctors is a significant concern, with predictions suggesting a shortfall of at least 10,000 doctors by 2035. As such, finding a balance between increasing enrollment quotas and maintaining the quality of healthcare services remains a pressing issue for South Korea. This decision aligns with proposals put forward by national medical schools seeking to reduce enrollment targets by 50% next year due to concerns about inadequate training facilities.