South Korea to adjust medical school quotas to end doctors' strike
Seoul: In a move to end prolonged walkouts by junior doctors in response to the South Korean's government decision to increase total medical school admissions by 2,000, starting next year.
The government is likely to accept a request made by the chiefs of six national universities to lower their medical school enrolment quotas for next year, officials said on Friday.
The six universities, all located outside the capital region, made the request on Thursday amid an ongoing standoff between the government and the medical community over the government's decision to increase total medical school admissions by 2,000 starting next year, Yonhap news agency reported.
According to an IANS report, The universities, including Gangwon National University, Kyungpook National University, Gyeongsang National University, Chungnam National University, Chungbuk National University and Jeju National University, asked to be allowed to lower the quotas assigned to them by up to 50 per cent next year.
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The proposal is slated for discussion during a government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo later on Friday, as indicated by government and presidential sources.
"We're open to (adjusting) the number 2,000," a presidential official told Yonhap News Agency.
"If they give us their opinion, of course, there should be room to consider it positively."
The official stressed the need to make a quick decision given universities' admissions timetables.
Han is reportedly considering announcing the outcome of the meeting at a press briefing later in the day. Also expected to be discussed at the meeting is whether to adjust the enrolment quota for 2026 and beyond. The current government plan calls for an annual increase of 2,000 seats.
Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that South Korean Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong that the government is willing to engage in open discussions regarding the proposed increase in medical school admissions if doctors present a unified and more rational approach.
