S. Korea plans to train 4,000 extra medical students by 2032
- 4 years ago
당정 "의대 정원 10년간 4천 명 증원…3천 명 지역복무"
COVID-19 has put unprecedented stress on South Korea's health system.
To help the country better prepare for any future pandemics, the South Korean government and the ruling party have proposed increasing the annual admissions quota at medical schools.
Some 4-hundred additional students a year will be admitted to medical schools for 10 years starting 2022.
Lee Kyung-eun reports.
South Korea plans to train 4-thousand extra medical students by 2032 in a bid to ramp up its health service.
It will be done over the course of 10 years starting in 2022, with some 4-hundred additional students a year entering medical schools.
That would make a total of 3-thousand-4-hundred-58 medical students each year.
This is what the ruling Democratic Party said, announcing the plan on Thursday, along with the government.
"The outbreak has revealed the limitation of the country's overall medical system. Medical staff are out there protecting people's lives, but we cannot depend on them forever."
Three-quarters of all the new students will be admitted through the so-called regional doctor system.
It's a full-scholarship program,...which in turn, requires them to practice in provincial areas in fields dealing with severe diseases.
This is to ensure a quality health care service in those regions.
"The regional gap in medical care between the capital and provinces has reached a serious level in terms of medical institutions and personnel."
Some 5-hundred students will be trained as epidemiologists, pediatricians, and other specialists.
And another 5-hundred will become researchers in bio-science, pharmaceuticals and basic science.
The officials have also agreed to open public medical schools in regions that don't have a school.
Based on this, the education ministry will announced related policies and guidelines on entrance exams in the coming months.
"This will be the first time South Korea has increased its admissions quota for medical schools since 1997.
And given the urgency of the matter, the ruling party has called for cooperation from the opposition to swiftly pass the law.
Lee Kyung-eun, Arirang News."
COVID-19 has put unprecedented stress on South Korea's health system.
To help the country better prepare for any future pandemics, the South Korean government and the ruling party have proposed increasing the annual admissions quota at medical schools.
Some 4-hundred additional students a year will be admitted to medical schools for 10 years starting 2022.
Lee Kyung-eun reports.
South Korea plans to train 4-thousand extra medical students by 2032 in a bid to ramp up its health service.
It will be done over the course of 10 years starting in 2022, with some 4-hundred additional students a year entering medical schools.
That would make a total of 3-thousand-4-hundred-58 medical students each year.
This is what the ruling Democratic Party said, announcing the plan on Thursday, along with the government.
"The outbreak has revealed the limitation of the country's overall medical system. Medical staff are out there protecting people's lives, but we cannot depend on them forever."
Three-quarters of all the new students will be admitted through the so-called regional doctor system.
It's a full-scholarship program,...which in turn, requires them to practice in provincial areas in fields dealing with severe diseases.
This is to ensure a quality health care service in those regions.
"The regional gap in medical care between the capital and provinces has reached a serious level in terms of medical institutions and personnel."
Some 5-hundred students will be trained as epidemiologists, pediatricians, and other specialists.
And another 5-hundred will become researchers in bio-science, pharmaceuticals and basic science.
The officials have also agreed to open public medical schools in regions that don't have a school.
Based on this, the education ministry will announced related policies and guidelines on entrance exams in the coming months.
"This will be the first time South Korea has increased its admissions quota for medical schools since 1997.
And given the urgency of the matter, the ruling party has called for cooperation from the opposition to swiftly pass the law.
Lee Kyung-eun, Arirang News."