(2nd LD) Yoon calls for timely implementation of medical school quota hike

President Yoon Suk Yeol has called for measures to ensure medical schools implement the hike in their quotas to timely reflect the first such change in nearly three decades, his office said Sunday. Last week, the Korean Council for University Education, an association of university presidents, approved an increase in next year's medical school admission quota despite strong protest from trainee doctors, finalizing the first such hike in 27 years. The decision came more than three months after the government announced the plan to add 2,000 more seats to the medical school quota starting next year to address the shortage of doctors in critical areas. Sung Tae-yoon, the presidential chief of staff for policy, said Yoon called for the "rapid and efficient" implementation of medical reform measures to address concerns from the prolonged doctors' walkout. "The president called for full preparations to ensure medical schools' increased quota is ready for the college admission process and for necessary measures t o ensure smooth education," Sung said in a press briefing. "He also urged the health ministry to maintain the robust emergency treatment system and encourage trainee doctors to return to hospitals to complete their courses alongside patients," he added. The health ministry earlier said the government will proactively offer support to medical schools, including hiring more professors and securing more classrooms and equipment. The government plans to introduce measures to support medical schools as they prepare for an increased number of freshmen starting next year to address concerns that the hike could compromise the quality of education, according to sources. The Korea Medical Association, the largest doctors' organization protesting the reform plan, has been insisting that the increase, implemented without specific plans, will lead to the collapse of both the education and medical systems. About 12,000 trainee doctors, meanwhile, have remained off the job since Feb. 20 in protest of the plan to raise the medical school admission quota, causing disruptions at general hospitals and emergency rooms. The government is also deliberating on whether to punish doctors participating in the strike. Health authorities had previously vowed to suspend their licenses for three months, but this plan was halted ahead of the parliamentary elections in April. Amid slim chances for a dialogue between the government and the medical community, the KMA plans to hold a candlelight vigil on Thursday in central Seoul. The medical community plans to hold similar protests across the country on the same day, according to sources. Source: Yonhap News Agency