Professors petition parliamentary probe into ‘why 2000 more medical students’
기자명 Song Soo-youn
Published 2024.07.25
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A petition has been filed with the National Assembly demanding a parliamentary investigation into the process, by which the decision to increase the medical school enrollment quota by 2,000 was made and implemented.
More than 18,000 people agreed with the petition within a day of its filing.
A petition has been filed to request a parliamentary investigation to determine the truth about the medical school enrollment increase policy. (Source: National Assembly petition website)
On Wednesday, the Medical Professors Association of Korea registered the petition, asking the National Assembly to conduct a probe to find out the truth behind the policy to increase the number of medical school students by 2,000. The petition, titled “Request for a national investigation to find out the truth about the policy to increase the number of medical school seats by 2,000,” has received 18,015 responses as of 10 a.m. Thursday.
The association said that a national investigation should be conducted to make clear the decision-making process for increasing the number of medical school students by 2,000. To do this, it said, the status of the healthcare development plan, the discussion and decision-making process of the medical workforce expert committee, the healthcare policy review committee, the medical issues council, and the minister of health and welfare's decision and implementation of the 2,000 increase should also be clarified.
It added that the process of allocating the 2,000 additional students to each medical school should also be identified. It said that the process of discussing and deciding on the medical school quota allocation committee, determining the number of seats that reflect educational conditions, and deciding on the number of seats for each university should be clarified.
It also argued that the government should scientifically prove the “shortage of 15,000 doctors in 2035,” which it claimed was the basis for increasing medical school students by 2,000. In addition, the association claimed it is necessary to clarify the judicial process for specialties announced by the government, including the order to maintain and open a practice, the order not to accept resignation letters, and the policy not to allow trainee doctors’ return in March 2025.
The association also asked for clarification on the government's policy of prohibiting medical students from taking leave of absence, the Ministry of Education's attempts to infringe on the independence of the Korean Institute of Medical Education and Evaluation (KIMEE), the status of preparing educational conditions for the expansion of medical schools and securing related budgets, measures to prevent doctors and medical students from not returning, and measures to establish a consensus body.
“The government's unprecedented, ultra-fast expansion of 2,000 medical school students, which is unprecedented worldwide, is driving the medical field and medical education into disruption,” the association said. “The National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee hearing in June revealed that the 2,000-student expansion was a ‘three-no policy’ -- no consultation, no basis, and no preparation.’”
The association stressed that the public and the next generation of doctors suffer the most from this reckless policy. It added that university hospitals in the provinces and Seoul have collapsed and cannot accept new medical students for next year. The government is also intimidating the KIMEE and facilitating the deterioration of medical education.
“A parliamentary investigation is needed now to find out the truth about the decision to enroll 2,000 more students and the process of implementation that triggered the crisis to prevent further disruption and find a solution,” the association emphasized.
A separate petition requesting a hearing targeting the Ministry of Education on the medical school student increase policy has been referred to the Assembly’s Education Committee, with 50,000 signatures as of 7 a.m. on Wednesday.
기자명 Song Soo-youn
Published 2024.07.25
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Professors are responding to the government's expansion of recruiting trainee doctors for the second half of 2024 with a "boycott" to protest the initiative.
At the Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, professors at the dermatology and psychiatric departments have issued statements and declared that they would not recruit trainee doctors for the second half of the year, following the example of the radiology and ophthalmology departments.
기자명 Song Soo-youn
Published 2024.07.25
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A petition has been filed with the National Assembly demanding a parliamentary investigation into the process, by which the decision to increase the medical school enrollment quota by 2,000 was made and implemented.
More than 18,000 people agreed with the petition within a day of its filing.
A petition has been filed to request a parliamentary investigation to determine the truth about the medical school enrollment increase policy. (Source: National Assembly petition website)On Wednesday, the Medical Professors Association of Korea registered the petition, asking the National Assembly to conduct a probe to find out the truth behind the policy to increase the number of medical school students by 2,000. The petition, titled “Request for a national investigation to find out the truth about the policy to increase the number of medical school seats by 2,000,” has received 18,015 responses as of 10 a.m. Thursday.
The association said that a national investigation should be conducted to make clear the decision-making process for increasing the number of medical school students by 2,000. To do this, it said, the status of the healthcare development plan, the discussion and decision-making process of the medical workforce expert committee, the healthcare policy review committee, the medical issues council, and the minister of health and welfare's decision and implementation of the 2,000 increase should also be clarified.
It added that the process of allocating the 2,000 additional students to each medical school should also be identified. It said that the process of discussing and deciding on the medical school quota allocation committee, determining the number of seats that reflect educational conditions, and deciding on the number of seats for each university should be clarified.
It also argued that the government should scientifically prove the “shortage of 15,000 doctors in 2035,” which it claimed was the basis for increasing medical school students by 2,000. In addition, the association claimed it is necessary to clarify the judicial process for specialties announced by the government, including the order to maintain and open a practice, the order not to accept resignation letters, and the policy not to allow trainee doctors’ return in March 2025.
The association also asked for clarification on the government's policy of prohibiting medical students from taking leave of absence, the Ministry of Education's attempts to infringe on the independence of the Korean Institute of Medical Education and Evaluation (KIMEE), the status of preparing educational conditions for the expansion of medical schools and securing related budgets, measures to prevent doctors and medical students from not returning, and measures to establish a consensus body.
“The government's unprecedented, ultra-fast expansion of 2,000 medical school students, which is unprecedented worldwide, is driving the medical field and medical education into disruption,” the association said. “The National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee hearing in June revealed that the 2,000-student expansion was a ‘three-no policy’ -- no consultation, no basis, and no preparation.’”
The association stressed that the public and the next generation of doctors suffer the most from this reckless policy. It added that university hospitals in the provinces and Seoul have collapsed and cannot accept new medical students for next year. The government is also intimidating the KIMEE and facilitating the deterioration of medical education.
“A parliamentary investigation is needed now to find out the truth about the decision to enroll 2,000 more students and the process of implementation that triggered the crisis to prevent further disruption and find a solution,” the association emphasized.
A separate petition requesting a hearing targeting the Ministry of Education on the medical school student increase policy has been referred to the Assembly’s Education Committee, with 50,000 signatures as of 7 a.m. on Wednesday.
Medical professors boycott recruiting interns for ‘popular’ departments
WHITE, BLUE, PINK THE COLOR OF YOUR COLLAR DOES NOT MATTER WE ARE ALL PROLETARIANS NOW
기자명 Song Soo-youn
Published 2024.07.25
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Professors are responding to the government's expansion of recruiting trainee doctors for the second half of 2024 with a "boycott" to protest the initiative.
At the Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, professors at the dermatology and psychiatric departments have issued statements and declared that they would not recruit trainee doctors for the second half of the year, following the example of the radiology and ophthalmology departments.
A growing number of medical professors are refusing to recruit trainee doctors for the second half of this year. (KBR photo)
Catholic Medical Center, which recruits and trains doctors from eight affiliated hospitals, has announced the recruitment of 21 dermatology residents for the second half-year -- six first-year, four second-year, six third-year, and five fourth-year residents.
“The government is not taking responsibility for its misguided policy and is pushing ahead with implementing recruitment for the second half of the year, which could further undermine essential medical care,” the university’s Department of Dermatology said in a statement on Wednesday.
The statement added that the department opposes recruiting trainee doctors and has no intention of implementing it for the second half-year, conveying its position to the Training and Education Department of the Catholic Central Medical Center.
The dermatology professors said they would “refuse all education and guidance” if the recruitment went ahead even though they had no intention of recruiting new residents, let alone those in their senior year. The reason for this stance was to “prevent innocent victims from applying for the second half-year recruitment”
“It’s been more than five months since doctors and students, who could not overlook Korean healthcare’s collapse due to the medical school student increase and the essential care policy package, have given up the positions they have won by working their entire lives,” they said. “We submitted resignation letters in February but the hospital forced us to change our resignations to June 4 to reduce the government's legal liability.”
“If the government was responsible and willing to revive essential medicine, it would never have recruited doctors for the second half of the year while nothing has changed,” they said. “We cannot help but interpret it as the government having a different motive.”
“We will only consider our colleagues and students to be those selected through normal procedures and fair competition,” they said. “We cannot allow someone to usurp the positions of our colleagues through an abnormal and unfair process.”
“We unequivocally reject the Health and Welfare Ministry’s unilateral attempt to fill the positions of resigned trainee doctors with other junior doctors,” they added.
The professors of the Department of Psychiatry at the same medical school also issued a statement on Thursday, opposing the second half-year recruitment of trainee doctors, they would wait for existing residents.
“We oppose this unilateral process,” the psychiatry professors said, calling it “an irresponsible move that removes any clue to problem solving and shifts all responsibility to the frontline faculty and residents.”
“The relationship between faculty and residents in a training hospital is the sum of formal and informal processes that are integrated and intensive with the goal of training specialists in the field,” the psychiatry professors said. “The selection and training of residents is a long process involving many faculty and residents. We cannot accept unilateral actions that seek to alter this status quo artificially.”
“The residents who have submitted their resignations in protest of the medical school's recruitment policy are members of the Department of Psychiatry and should be protected from any unwanted disadvantages or changes in their status,” they said. “We oppose the government's unjustified resignation process and the unilateral initiation of the recruitment process for the second half-year. We will continue to persevere and work to ensure that the current residents in this class can continue their training at the Catholic University of Korea School of Psychiatry.”
Yonsei University College of Medicine professors have also announced their intention to boycott training for interns, calling for the Big Six hospitals to stop recruiting trainee doctors for the second half-year.
Catholic Medical Center, which recruits and trains doctors from eight affiliated hospitals, has announced the recruitment of 21 dermatology residents for the second half-year -- six first-year, four second-year, six third-year, and five fourth-year residents.
“The government is not taking responsibility for its misguided policy and is pushing ahead with implementing recruitment for the second half of the year, which could further undermine essential medical care,” the university’s Department of Dermatology said in a statement on Wednesday.
The statement added that the department opposes recruiting trainee doctors and has no intention of implementing it for the second half-year, conveying its position to the Training and Education Department of the Catholic Central Medical Center.
The dermatology professors said they would “refuse all education and guidance” if the recruitment went ahead even though they had no intention of recruiting new residents, let alone those in their senior year. The reason for this stance was to “prevent innocent victims from applying for the second half-year recruitment”
“It’s been more than five months since doctors and students, who could not overlook Korean healthcare’s collapse due to the medical school student increase and the essential care policy package, have given up the positions they have won by working their entire lives,” they said. “We submitted resignation letters in February but the hospital forced us to change our resignations to June 4 to reduce the government's legal liability.”
“If the government was responsible and willing to revive essential medicine, it would never have recruited doctors for the second half of the year while nothing has changed,” they said. “We cannot help but interpret it as the government having a different motive.”
“We will only consider our colleagues and students to be those selected through normal procedures and fair competition,” they said. “We cannot allow someone to usurp the positions of our colleagues through an abnormal and unfair process.”
“We unequivocally reject the Health and Welfare Ministry’s unilateral attempt to fill the positions of resigned trainee doctors with other junior doctors,” they added.
The professors of the Department of Psychiatry at the same medical school also issued a statement on Thursday, opposing the second half-year recruitment of trainee doctors, they would wait for existing residents.
“We oppose this unilateral process,” the psychiatry professors said, calling it “an irresponsible move that removes any clue to problem solving and shifts all responsibility to the frontline faculty and residents.”
“The relationship between faculty and residents in a training hospital is the sum of formal and informal processes that are integrated and intensive with the goal of training specialists in the field,” the psychiatry professors said. “The selection and training of residents is a long process involving many faculty and residents. We cannot accept unilateral actions that seek to alter this status quo artificially.”
“The residents who have submitted their resignations in protest of the medical school's recruitment policy are members of the Department of Psychiatry and should be protected from any unwanted disadvantages or changes in their status,” they said. “We oppose the government's unjustified resignation process and the unilateral initiation of the recruitment process for the second half-year. We will continue to persevere and work to ensure that the current residents in this class can continue their training at the Catholic University of Korea School of Psychiatry.”
Yonsei University College of Medicine professors have also announced their intention to boycott training for interns, calling for the Big Six hospitals to stop recruiting trainee doctors for the second half-year.
Oriental medicine leader calls for ‘leveling the playing field’ in health policies
기자명 Kim Eun-young
Published 2024.07.24
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Oriental medicine doctors are also important stakeholders in the government’s policy to increase the medical school enrollment quota, their leader said Tuesday.
He also pointed out that medical policies are centered on Western medicine, vowing to expand the scope of oriental medicine to “normalize the tilted playing field.”
On Tuesday, Yoon Sung-chan, president of the Association of Korean Medicine, called for applying actual loss insurance to unreimbursed oriental medicine practices and reimbursing the use of diagnostic devices by oriental doctors in a news conference to mark his 100th day in office at the association headquarters in Seoul. (Courtesy of the Association of Korean Medicine)
Yoon Sung-chan, president of the Association of Korean Medicine, made these and other points at a press conference to mark his 100th day in office at the association headquarters in Gayang-dong, southwestern Seoul.
“Unfortunately, the discussions at the presidential committee on healthcare reform seem to focus only on institutional improvements to bring back doctors,” Yoon said. “I have insisted that the oriental medicine community also participate and discuss the big picture of healthcare reform.”
Yoon noted that many healthcare system improvements discussed now are possible only with astronomical financial resources.
“To maintain a sustainable healthcare system in this era of population aging, we need adequate medical care and fees, and the country can increase (system) sustainability by promoting oriental medicine,” he emphasized.
“We are not asking the government to give preferential treatment to traditional medicine practitioners,” Yoon said, ”We are asking it to level the playing field so that we can compete fairly. Please understand the difficulties of oriental medicine practitioners.”
To normalize the tilted playing field, Yoon called for “applying actual loss compensation insurance to unreimbursed oriental medicine practices” and “reimbursing the use of diagnostic devices by oriental medicine doctors.”
According to Yoon, excluding non-reimbursed medical expenses for oriental medicine from the second generation of actual loss insurance in October 2009 led to a decline in the number of patients visiting oriental medicine clinics since 2014.
Although the Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission issued a recommendation in July 2014 to include unreimbursed medical expenses for therapeutic oriental medicine in accidental loss insurance, the situation has not improved.
“One of the most unfair aspects of the healthcare system is the lack of coverage for unreimbursed oriental medicine practices by actual loss insurance,” Yoon said, emphasizing, “It was one of my campaign promises when I ran for the association’s leader, and I will accomplish it before leaving office by all means.”
“Oriental medicine and Western medicine compete for patients with the same diseases. It is unfair that Western doctors get coverage for unreimbursed practices while oriental medicine practitioners do not,” he said. “We can guarantee people's right to choose medical treatment and resolve medical distortions, such as unfair medical market and excessive non-reimbursed treatments caused by monopolies.”
“We are not asking for actual loss insurance coverage to be applied to herbal tonics. We're asking for oriental medicines, acupuncture, and chiropractic with a clear therapeutic purpose,” Yoon said. “Excluding herbal tonics, medical expenses are not expensive, either. Going in this direction is more helpful to create a sustainable medical system.”
He also urged the government to cover the use of diagnostic devices by oriental medicine doctors.
Although the Constitutional Court has ruled that tonometers, auto-refractors, slit lamp microscopes, automatic vision measuring equipment, and audiometers are not illegal for use by oriental medicine doctors, and the use of blood and urine tests, ultrasound diagnostic devices, in vitro diagnostic kits, and electroencephalographs are all legal according to the Health and Welfare authoritative interpretation and court rulings, it is still difficult to cover oriental medicine doctors' use of diagnostic devices, he noted.
“To respond effectively to the medical vacuum caused by repeated doctor strikes, it is essential to reimburse the use of diagnostic devices by oriental medicine doctors,” Yoon said. “Reimbursing the use of diagnostic devices by oriental medicine doctors will reduce the inconvenience of double visits to medical institutions, reduce medical costs, increase treatment efficiency, and revitalize the medical device industry.”
In addition, Yoon called for the government to allow the participation of oriental medicine doctors in the government's policies to strengthen primary healthcare, including the pilot project on the number of visits by oriental medicine doctors in primary healthcare, a pilot project on oriental dementia doctors, a pilot project on health doctors for the disabled, and a pilot project on chronic disease management in primary healthcare.
“Several pilot projects are being promoted under the government's policy of revitalizing primary healthcare, but oriental medicine has been excluded,” Yoon said. “It should be designed as a pilot project that oriental medicine doctors can participate in, but (these discussions) have been blocked. The government should include oriental medicine doctors in the pilot project to ensure people's right to healthcare choice and help improve health.”
기자명 Kim Eun-young
Published 2024.07.24
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Oriental medicine doctors are also important stakeholders in the government’s policy to increase the medical school enrollment quota, their leader said Tuesday.
He also pointed out that medical policies are centered on Western medicine, vowing to expand the scope of oriental medicine to “normalize the tilted playing field.”
On Tuesday, Yoon Sung-chan, president of the Association of Korean Medicine, called for applying actual loss insurance to unreimbursed oriental medicine practices and reimbursing the use of diagnostic devices by oriental doctors in a news conference to mark his 100th day in office at the association headquarters in Seoul. (Courtesy of the Association of Korean Medicine)Yoon Sung-chan, president of the Association of Korean Medicine, made these and other points at a press conference to mark his 100th day in office at the association headquarters in Gayang-dong, southwestern Seoul.
“Unfortunately, the discussions at the presidential committee on healthcare reform seem to focus only on institutional improvements to bring back doctors,” Yoon said. “I have insisted that the oriental medicine community also participate and discuss the big picture of healthcare reform.”
Yoon noted that many healthcare system improvements discussed now are possible only with astronomical financial resources.
“To maintain a sustainable healthcare system in this era of population aging, we need adequate medical care and fees, and the country can increase (system) sustainability by promoting oriental medicine,” he emphasized.
“We are not asking the government to give preferential treatment to traditional medicine practitioners,” Yoon said, ”We are asking it to level the playing field so that we can compete fairly. Please understand the difficulties of oriental medicine practitioners.”
To normalize the tilted playing field, Yoon called for “applying actual loss compensation insurance to unreimbursed oriental medicine practices” and “reimbursing the use of diagnostic devices by oriental medicine doctors.”
According to Yoon, excluding non-reimbursed medical expenses for oriental medicine from the second generation of actual loss insurance in October 2009 led to a decline in the number of patients visiting oriental medicine clinics since 2014.
Although the Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission issued a recommendation in July 2014 to include unreimbursed medical expenses for therapeutic oriental medicine in accidental loss insurance, the situation has not improved.
“One of the most unfair aspects of the healthcare system is the lack of coverage for unreimbursed oriental medicine practices by actual loss insurance,” Yoon said, emphasizing, “It was one of my campaign promises when I ran for the association’s leader, and I will accomplish it before leaving office by all means.”
“Oriental medicine and Western medicine compete for patients with the same diseases. It is unfair that Western doctors get coverage for unreimbursed practices while oriental medicine practitioners do not,” he said. “We can guarantee people's right to choose medical treatment and resolve medical distortions, such as unfair medical market and excessive non-reimbursed treatments caused by monopolies.”
“We are not asking for actual loss insurance coverage to be applied to herbal tonics. We're asking for oriental medicines, acupuncture, and chiropractic with a clear therapeutic purpose,” Yoon said. “Excluding herbal tonics, medical expenses are not expensive, either. Going in this direction is more helpful to create a sustainable medical system.”
He also urged the government to cover the use of diagnostic devices by oriental medicine doctors.
Although the Constitutional Court has ruled that tonometers, auto-refractors, slit lamp microscopes, automatic vision measuring equipment, and audiometers are not illegal for use by oriental medicine doctors, and the use of blood and urine tests, ultrasound diagnostic devices, in vitro diagnostic kits, and electroencephalographs are all legal according to the Health and Welfare authoritative interpretation and court rulings, it is still difficult to cover oriental medicine doctors' use of diagnostic devices, he noted.
“To respond effectively to the medical vacuum caused by repeated doctor strikes, it is essential to reimburse the use of diagnostic devices by oriental medicine doctors,” Yoon said. “Reimbursing the use of diagnostic devices by oriental medicine doctors will reduce the inconvenience of double visits to medical institutions, reduce medical costs, increase treatment efficiency, and revitalize the medical device industry.”
In addition, Yoon called for the government to allow the participation of oriental medicine doctors in the government's policies to strengthen primary healthcare, including the pilot project on the number of visits by oriental medicine doctors in primary healthcare, a pilot project on oriental dementia doctors, a pilot project on health doctors for the disabled, and a pilot project on chronic disease management in primary healthcare.
“Several pilot projects are being promoted under the government's policy of revitalizing primary healthcare, but oriental medicine has been excluded,” Yoon said. “It should be designed as a pilot project that oriental medicine doctors can participate in, but (these discussions) have been blocked. The government should include oriental medicine doctors in the pilot project to ensure people's right to healthcare choice and help improve health.”
Confusion worsens as government accepts medical exam applications despite student boycott
기자명 Kim Ju-yeon
Published 2024.07.23
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The government has begun the registration process for the medical practical examination as students boycott classes and exams in protest of the medical school enrollment quota increase, adding to the confusion in the education field.
Medical students think there is no reason to take the national exam while the controversy remains unresolved. Professors say there is no way to reverse the students' decision, doubting that students can properly prepare for the exam even if they take the extra test, given the disruption in medical education.
기자명 Kim Ju-yeon
Published 2024.07.23
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The government has begun the registration process for the medical practical examination as students boycott classes and exams in protest of the medical school enrollment quota increase, adding to the confusion in the education field.
Medical students think there is no reason to take the national exam while the controversy remains unresolved. Professors say there is no way to reverse the students' decision, doubting that students can properly prepare for the exam even if they take the extra test, given the disruption in medical education.
Although the practical examination for the national medical licensing examination has begun, most prospective medical graduates still refuse to take the exam, adding to the confusion in the medical education field. (Source: Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute)
The Korea Healthcare Personnel Licensing Examination Institute accepts applications for the practical examination for doctors from Monday to Friday. The practical exam will be held over three months, from Sept. 2 to Nov. 4.
However, the number of examinees will likely drop significantly, as most medical school graduating students have declared their refusal to take the exam.
According to a survey conducted by the Korean Medical Student Association on 3,015 fourth-year students from 40 medical schools nationwide, 2,903 respondents, or 95.52 percent, refused to submit a consent form to provide personal information for the test.
Under the Medical Service Act, students expected to graduate medical school within six months are eligible for the test. So far, medical schools have submitted a list of graduating students to the institute after winning medical students’ consent to provide personal information to prove they are eligible.
This year, however, medical students did not submit the consent form to the medical school, and the list of intended graduates could not be handed over, making it impossible for them to take the exam.
Medical students say there is no reason to take the national exam unless the government resolves the causes of the problem, i.e., increasing the number of medical students. They also say it is impossible to practice properly due to the absence of senior trainee doctors in training hospitals.
“One of the main methods for medical training is apprenticeship training taught by seniors,” said a fourth-year medical student who took a leave of absence from a medical school in South Gyeongsang Province, in a telephone interview with Korea Biomedical Review on Monday. “Even if we take the national exam and get a license, there are no senior doctors to teach us at the training hospital.”
“It's not just a matter of seniors and juniors. Mixing trainers and trainees leads to a deformed training system, and training hospitals cannot accommodate all graduates. It will eventually accelerate the brain drain to the beauty sector,” he said.
The student continued, “Medical students are not asking for an immediate fix for not taking the national anthem and not finishing their practicum hours and internships,” emphasizing that the way to solve the problem is to understand the cause, not to hide the effect of the wrong policy.
Medical school professors say they are “frustrated” by the situation but recognize that it is up to the students.
“Currently, none of the fourth-year students have submitted their personal information,” said a professor at a provincial university hospital. “The dean is trying to persuade them, but it's useless because they are so firm in their stance. It's frustrating but we can't do anything.”
A professor at a Seoul-based medical college also said, “I'm worried, but I think the students are adults and will make their own decisions.”
Professors believed medical students who stay in school for one reason or another would find it difficult to prepare for the national exam in the absence of proper education.
“Eight fourth-year students remain in school but I am not sure if they will be able to prepare properly for the exam in the current situation,” another Seoul-based medical school professor said. “Before the exam, a consortium of several medical schools holds a mock Clinical Performance Examination (CPX) but this year we could not do it.”
She continued, “There are private CPX schools demanding millions of won so they might prepare somehow. However, most of the remaining fourth-year students have flunked several times and can no longer take time off from school. They don't have a peer group to study with. How can they properly prepare for the exam in such a confusing situation?”
As announced by the Ministry of Education earlier, there is a possibility of holding an additional medical national examination. However, even if medical students return, they must resolve the academic management first, as fourth-year students will not be eligible to take the national exam if they do not graduate this year.
“When the students return, the government has no choice but to allow them to take additional exams. But we don't know when they will return, and even if they do, how can they sit for the exam if they haven't completed their fourth year of school?” the professor asked.
She continued, “Fourth-year students don't have a lot of curriculum, so I'm sure they can somehow fit in the number of class days. In principle, however, it doesn’t make sense to let them graduate when they haven't met the standards.”
The medical student in South Gyeongsang Province said that even if he were allowed to take additional exams, he was not confident that he would be able to prepare properly, given the disruption in medical education over the past six to seven months.
“I am skeptical that I will be able to pass the practical exam since I have not practiced clinical skills (OSCE) and CPX at all,” he said. “Even if I can take the exam, many think it will be difficult to prepare for it while combining clinical practice and skill study for the rest of the year, making it difficult to pass.”
Meanwhile, the state institute said that if students agree to provide their personal information during the application period and are registered as graduate students, they can apply for the practical exam. It added that they will prepare for the practical exam regardless of the number of applicants.
“Except for medical school graduates who failed to submit the personal information consent form, medical school graduates can take the practical examination,” an institute official said. “However, if they register with the institute as a graduate through their medical school within the registration period, they can take the practical examination. It would be good for medical schools to spread this information.”
The official continued, “Depending on the number of candidates, the overall test period or schedule may be adjusted. However, once the registration is complete, we plan to proceed with the exam as normal regardless of the number of candidates, and we are currently preparing for this.”
The Korea Healthcare Personnel Licensing Examination Institute accepts applications for the practical examination for doctors from Monday to Friday. The practical exam will be held over three months, from Sept. 2 to Nov. 4.
However, the number of examinees will likely drop significantly, as most medical school graduating students have declared their refusal to take the exam.
According to a survey conducted by the Korean Medical Student Association on 3,015 fourth-year students from 40 medical schools nationwide, 2,903 respondents, or 95.52 percent, refused to submit a consent form to provide personal information for the test.
Under the Medical Service Act, students expected to graduate medical school within six months are eligible for the test. So far, medical schools have submitted a list of graduating students to the institute after winning medical students’ consent to provide personal information to prove they are eligible.
This year, however, medical students did not submit the consent form to the medical school, and the list of intended graduates could not be handed over, making it impossible for them to take the exam.
Medical students say there is no reason to take the national exam unless the government resolves the causes of the problem, i.e., increasing the number of medical students. They also say it is impossible to practice properly due to the absence of senior trainee doctors in training hospitals.
“One of the main methods for medical training is apprenticeship training taught by seniors,” said a fourth-year medical student who took a leave of absence from a medical school in South Gyeongsang Province, in a telephone interview with Korea Biomedical Review on Monday. “Even if we take the national exam and get a license, there are no senior doctors to teach us at the training hospital.”
“It's not just a matter of seniors and juniors. Mixing trainers and trainees leads to a deformed training system, and training hospitals cannot accommodate all graduates. It will eventually accelerate the brain drain to the beauty sector,” he said.
The student continued, “Medical students are not asking for an immediate fix for not taking the national anthem and not finishing their practicum hours and internships,” emphasizing that the way to solve the problem is to understand the cause, not to hide the effect of the wrong policy.
Medical school professors say they are “frustrated” by the situation but recognize that it is up to the students.
“Currently, none of the fourth-year students have submitted their personal information,” said a professor at a provincial university hospital. “The dean is trying to persuade them, but it's useless because they are so firm in their stance. It's frustrating but we can't do anything.”
A professor at a Seoul-based medical college also said, “I'm worried, but I think the students are adults and will make their own decisions.”
Professors believed medical students who stay in school for one reason or another would find it difficult to prepare for the national exam in the absence of proper education.
“Eight fourth-year students remain in school but I am not sure if they will be able to prepare properly for the exam in the current situation,” another Seoul-based medical school professor said. “Before the exam, a consortium of several medical schools holds a mock Clinical Performance Examination (CPX) but this year we could not do it.”
She continued, “There are private CPX schools demanding millions of won so they might prepare somehow. However, most of the remaining fourth-year students have flunked several times and can no longer take time off from school. They don't have a peer group to study with. How can they properly prepare for the exam in such a confusing situation?”
As announced by the Ministry of Education earlier, there is a possibility of holding an additional medical national examination. However, even if medical students return, they must resolve the academic management first, as fourth-year students will not be eligible to take the national exam if they do not graduate this year.
“When the students return, the government has no choice but to allow them to take additional exams. But we don't know when they will return, and even if they do, how can they sit for the exam if they haven't completed their fourth year of school?” the professor asked.
She continued, “Fourth-year students don't have a lot of curriculum, so I'm sure they can somehow fit in the number of class days. In principle, however, it doesn’t make sense to let them graduate when they haven't met the standards.”
The medical student in South Gyeongsang Province said that even if he were allowed to take additional exams, he was not confident that he would be able to prepare properly, given the disruption in medical education over the past six to seven months.
“I am skeptical that I will be able to pass the practical exam since I have not practiced clinical skills (OSCE) and CPX at all,” he said. “Even if I can take the exam, many think it will be difficult to prepare for it while combining clinical practice and skill study for the rest of the year, making it difficult to pass.”
Meanwhile, the state institute said that if students agree to provide their personal information during the application period and are registered as graduate students, they can apply for the practical exam. It added that they will prepare for the practical exam regardless of the number of applicants.
“Except for medical school graduates who failed to submit the personal information consent form, medical school graduates can take the practical examination,” an institute official said. “However, if they register with the institute as a graduate through their medical school within the registration period, they can take the practical examination. It would be good for medical schools to spread this information.”
The official continued, “Depending on the number of candidates, the overall test period or schedule may be adjusted. However, once the registration is complete, we plan to proceed with the exam as normal regardless of the number of candidates, and we are currently preparing for this.”
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