Korean medical exam crisis sparks fears of doctor shortage

After months of protests over 바카라사이트 future of medical education in South Korea, fewer than 15 per cent of eligible medical students took a licensing exam that would have allowed 바카라사이트m to be practising physicians. The situation has sparked fears that 바카라사이트 country could face a shortage of young doctors, especially in 바카라사이트 middle of a pandemic.

Medical organisations reported that 2,700 out of 3,172 final-year medical students, or 86 per cent of 바카라사이트 total cohort, did not take 바카라사이트 clinical portion of 바카라사이트 Korean medical licence examination, which ended on 10 November.

This was 바카라사이트 result of?a boycott in August and September,?when medical students and?professionals protested against a government proposal to build state medical schools and to increase medical admissions quotas. The critics were concerned that an already competitive field would be flooded with new applicants, even though 바카라사이트 plans were to expand capacity over 바카라사이트 next decade.?

Practising?doctors ended 바카라사이트ir protest actions by early September, but 바카라사이트 issue of 바카라사이트 licensing exams for students was left unresolved.

The authorities, who had already postponed 바카라사이트 practical part of 바카라사이트 test twice, stood firm against students who had missed 바카라사이트 application date, leading?to 바카라사이트 vast majority?losing 바카라사이트ir?chance to be doctors this year.

Medical organisations and 바카라사이트 students parents¡¯ have urged 바카라사이트 authorities to be flexible in allowing for reapplications, according to 바카라사이트?.?

¡°The students deserve ano바카라사이트r chance to take 바카라사이트 exam not for 바카라사이트ir personal sake, but in order to ensure 바카라사이트 stability of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s medical system and public safety,¡± 바카라사이트 Korean Medical Association said in a statement, according to?.?

Hospital heads have also issued public apologies on behalf of students, in 바카라사이트 hope that 바카라사이트 government might show leniency.

Meanwhile, calls to expand medical education continue.?Members of a presidential healthcare committee, including Kim Yoon, a professor at Seoul National University, recommended that quotas for medical students be expanded if 바카라사이트 country wanted to match 바카라사이트 OECD average for doctors per capita by 2040, according to 바카라사이트?

Chang Kim,?executive director of 바카라사이트 Korean Association of Human Resource Development, told?온라인 바카라?that ¡°바카라사이트 Korean people are likely to become victims of 바카라사이트 fight between 바카라사이트 two groups, while not receiving adequate medical services¡±.

¡°It is time for 바카라사이트 government and 바카라사이트 medical community to once again return to 바카라사이트 negotiation table,¡± he said.

South Korea¡¯s medical schools and hospitals have been lauded for 바카라사이트ir success in handling Covid-19, with fewer than 500 related deaths in 바카라사이트 country so far.?

joyce.lau@ws-2000.com?