Flexible Enrollment Quotas: South Korea’s Attempt to Address Healthcare Crisis

In an effort to address tensions in the medical sector and end a long strike by over 9,000 resident doctors, South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has announced that medical schools will have the autonomy to determine their own admission quotas starting next year. This decision, made after a government meeting on April 19, allows 32 universities to increase their enrollment targets flexibly, with annual increases ranging from 50% to 100%, starting from 2025.

The initial plan by the government was to increase medical school enrollment quotas by 2,000 by 2025, with an additional 10,000 doctors expected by 2023. However, this plan faced backlash from medical professionals who raised concerns about the quality of medical services and patient costs. The strike began in February and led to the cancellation of surgeries and treatments across the country.

The proposed reform program faced criticism from medical professionals who were concerned about the impact on patient care and safety. They argued that increasing enrollment targets would lead to a shortage of qualified physicians and could result in lower quality care for patients.

Despite these concerns, Prime Minister Han believes that increasing enrollment targets is necessary to address the aging population and strengthen essential sectors like pediatrics, emergency medicine, and surgery. With a significant portion of South Korea’s population expected to be over 65 years old by 2035 and a shortage of medical manpower predicted, the need for additional doctors is crucial for the country’s healthcare system.