Citizens! Yesterday, the presidents of six major national universities had a long and frank discussion about conflicts within and outside each university over medical school quotas.
At the end of the discussion, a reasonable solution to resolve the current situation was summarized and jointly presented to the government.
I believe that presidents, who are adults in our society, have adopted what they believe to be the most reasonable solution based on public opinion gathered thus far for the benefit of patients, doctors, entrance exam students, and college students. medicine, as well as residents in the regions where each university is located and throughout the Republic of Korea.
Dear citizens, today, at the Disaster Countermeasures and Security Headquarters, the government discussed in depth the proposals sent by the presidents and summarized the government’s position.
In the proposal, the presidents were concerned that the medical school’s academic program was performing disastrously due to the postponement of the cabinet reshuffle and the rejection of classes, and that there was not much time left regarding the university admissions program of 2025.
They were also concerned that if the class action continued any longer, it could have an impact not only for the 2025 school year but beyond.
Considering these different situations, the presidents will increase the number of medical school students by 2,000, but depending on the educational conditions of each university, they will be able to independently recruit new students in a range between 50% and 100% of the increase in number of students. for the 2025 school year He suggested that the government act as soon as possible.
He also called for providing financial support and making efforts to promote medical education so that the quality of medical education can be maintained excellent even as the number of medical school students increases.
Dear citizens, as Prime Minister presiding over the Council of Ministers, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the presidents who sent us today’s proposal for their wisdom.
Thank you for your efforts in presenting wise and reasonable alternatives to issues of extreme social conflict, taking into account the situations faced by various groups.
In a situation where it is difficult to present a united alternative to the medical community, the government cannot ignore the damage caused by the medical gap and has taken seriously the requests of the public and patients asking for a solution to the problem, deciding that a is a courageous decision is needed.
In particular, as the 2025 school entrance exam is upon us, we have also taken into account the need to minimize the anxiety of prospective applicants and parents, and the urgent need to normalize the academic program of the faculty of medicine.
Accordingly, the government decided to proactively accept the recommendations of the presidents of national universities to actively protect medical students and provide a lead to resolve conflicts in the medical field by normalizing education in medical schools.
Considering the educational conditions of each university, among the 32 universities whose share of medical schools was expanded this year, if they wish, they can voluntarily recruit new students for the 2025 school year within a range of more than 50% and 100% of the increase in the number of students.
Each university will modify the implementation reform of the 2025 university admissions process and will independently determine the number of students to be recruited within the permitted range by the end of April.
Additionally, by the end of April, the 2026 college admissions implementation plan will need to be finalized and announced to reflect the 2,000-person increase.
Dear citizens, in order to preserve essential medical care and local medical care, the government has communicated with the medical community more than 130 times and collected their opinions, and in February we prepared four important tasks for medical reform.
It includes a plan to significantly expand investments in essential medical care and community-based medical care, improve treatment of residents and ease the burden of lawsuits, as well as increase the number of medical school students by 2,000 starting next year, which has not been increased by a single student in 27 years.
Most of the things announced by the government are reforms that the medical community has long wanted, but the medical community’s opposition to increasing the number of medical schools has not abated.
The government has resolutely pursued healthcare reform and made every effort to keep the emergency care system running smoothly.
However, it has also been confirmed in several venues that as collective action continues in the medical community, public and patient anxiety increases.
When I visited patients with incurable diseases and their families, one young mother said that she was happy and grateful for medical reform, but she was sorry that she could not just applaud.
According to him, if the number of doctors increased by 2,000, the number of doctors specializing in incurable diseases and the number of doctors remaining in rural areas would also increase in the future, but the immediate medical gap is frightening for vulnerable patients.
Some say that with medical reform, patients have disappeared and only the medical community and the government remain.
Dear citizens, I would like to take this opportunity today to underline that people and patients are always at the center of medical reform.
The Yoon Seok-yeol government has promoted the expansion of medical schools and medical reform solely for the benefit of patients and the public.
That is why the President declared in a public speech on April 1 that government policy is always open.
The President has clearly expressed his desire for dialogue and demonstrated this through direct action through a long-term meeting with the Chairman of the Medical Emergency Commission.
However, even after this period, collective action by residents continued and differences of opinion within the medical community regarding the size of the increase did not abate.
The government is ready to engage in a dialogue with an open mind at any time if the medical community presents a scientific and reasonable solution.
If we think about the medical personnel who remain in the field and suffer, the students and parents preparing to enter university in 2025, the residents and medical students who are considering whether to return, the sick citizens and their families, the Today’s decision as a responsible government is problematic. I hope this is an opportunity for a solution.
Please understand that this is a decision to protect people’s lives and health.
I urge the medical community.
I hope that the medical community will also welcome with open-mindedness the loyal suggestions of university presidents and the government’s decision to actively welcome them.
To all medical students and residents who are considering returning, please return to school as soon as possible and alongside patients.
The government’s decision reflects its willingness to discuss any topic with you with an open mind.
Our residents are people who have chosen essential medical care and who have dedicated themselves more than anyone else to the front lines of the medical field, protecting people’s lives and health.
Medical students are the future leaders of Korean medical care.
I sincerely hope that you will stop the collective action and enter into an open dialogue with the government.
Dear citizens, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to you for providing emergency rooms and high-level hospitals to our neighbors in the most critical conditions and for being of great help in maintaining our emergency medical care system.
The government will do its best to put an end to this situation as quickly as possible.
We ask for your continued support and encouragement from the public.
Finally, as Prime Minister, on behalf of the people, I would like to express my gratitude and respect for your hard work to all the medical personnel who are protecting the medical field and doing their hard work even at this time.
Thank you
#Prime #Minister #Han #Accepts #National #University #Presidents #Proposal #SelfRecruitment #Medical #Schools
