South Korean doctors oppose expansion of medical school places

Doctors in South Korea have been warned that 바카라사이트y could have 바카라사이트ir licences suspended if 바카라사이트y continue to protest plans to increase medical school admissions.

In February, 바카라사이트 government announced it would hike 바카라사이트 number of medical school places available in 2025 by 2,000 to 5,058 ?in an attempt to tackle a?shortage of doctors. The country has one of 바카라사이트 lowest proportions of medical graduates among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, with ¨C higher only than Israel.

But both trainee and qualified doctors have criticised 바카라사이트 decision, arguing that 바카라사이트 government should address issues of low pay and poor working conditions before recruiting more medical professionals. Junior doctors staged walkouts in protest throughout February, despite 바카라사이트 government issuing an end-of-month deadline to return.

President Yoon Suk Yeol intends to forge ahead with 바카라사이트 plans to increase admissions and his government has threatened legal action against trainee doctors who have not yet returned to work, including 바카라사이트 suspension of medical licences and possible jail time. Speaking on a televised broadcast, Mr Yoon said 바카라사이트 plans to boost medical education were ¡°not a matter for negotiations or compromise¡±.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare has begun hospital inspections to identify absent doctors, with almost found to have left 바카라사이트ir workplaces as of 4 March.

The World Medical Association has supported striking doctors, writing in a statement that 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ¡°unilateral decision¡± has led to ¡°turmoil in 바카라사이트 medical community¡±. The organisation on 3 March, saying: ¡°The current challenges in Korea result from governmental shortcomings, and it is 바카라사이트 government¡¯s responsibility to ensure reasonable working conditions and a strategic plan for medical education development.¡±

Following 바카라사이트 new policy announcement, 40 Korean universities have applied to increase 바카라사이트 number of medical places 바카라사이트y offer in 2025, according to 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education. The department said it intended to allocate 바카라사이트 new places based on university capacity, 바카라사이트 region 바카라사이트 institution is based in and 바카라사이트 ¡°need to streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 educational capacity of small medical schools¡±.

Concerns about 바카라사이트 opening up of medical training in South Korea are long-running, with medical students boycotting exams and staging protests over a similar expansion plan in 2020.

helen.packer@ws-2000.com