Doctors’ group renews demand to revisit medical school quota hike for next year

A major lobby group of community doctors on Wednesday renewed its demand for the government to revisit the 2025 medical school admissions quota, clouding prospects for a breakthrough to resolve monthslong walkouts by junior doctors. Choi Anna, a spokesperson for the Korea Medical Association (KMA), told reporters that the association will not join a government-organized committee tasked with estimating the medical workforce shortage, unless the government opens talks about a possible change in the 2025 medical school admissions quota. Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong has said it is impossible to amend the planned increase in the medical school admission quota for next year, as universities already fixed details for their enrollment plans. "As the government insisted on opening discussions without limits in agendas, the admission quota for 2025 must be discussed," Choi said. "While the government claims that the increase in next year's medical school quota is irreversible simply because the admissions proces s has begun, it is still possible if it decides to act," Choi said. Thousands of trainee doctors have been absent from their workplaces in a form of mass resignation since February, with the medical community calling for discussions on the agenda from scratch. Source: Yonhap News Agency