Yoon says medical reform is demand of people

Mar 20, 2024, 10:00 am

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President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks at a Cabinet meeting held at presidential office in Seoul on March 19, 2024./ Source: Yonhap News

AsiaToday reporter Hong Sun-mi

President Yoon Suk-yeol criticized on Tuesday the prolonged collective action of the medical community, saying, “Medical licenses that have been granted to save the people’s lives should not be used as a tool to threaten and cause anxiety among the people.”

Yoon made the remarks during a Cabinet meeting held at presidential office in Seoul. “It is truly regrettable that some doctors, who are entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding patients and guiding aspiring medical professionals, are neglecting the wishes of the people for medical reforms and failing to properly fulfill their duties as both physicians and mentors,” he said.

“The medical reform in front of us is our duty to the people, as well as the people’s command,” he said.

Regarding the increase in medical schools around the world, he said, “In the past 20 years, the number of medical school admissions in the United States has increased from 16,000 to 23,000, and France from 3,850 to 10,000. On the other hand, Korea has not increased its capacity for 27 years.” He also pointed out that the proportion of the elderly population was 7 percent in 2000 at the time of the division of medicine, but is now increased to 20%, and it is expected to reach 30 percent by 2035.

The president revealed that the government will significantly allocate 2,000 medical students to medical schools in non-metropolitan areas next year to strengthen essential medical care in the regions. He added that a special committee on medical reform will be set up directly under the president next month to hold in-depth discussions with experts from various groups including those in the medical community.

#medical reform #Yoon Suk-yeol