[Editorial] A blind rush to host medical schools

The lack of doctors cannot be fulfilled by opening more medical schools and accepting more medical school applicants.

Regional universities and communities are vying hard to host medical schools. Politicians have joined the heat to win votes in the April 10 parliamentary elections next year. The Andong City Council unanimously passed a resolution calling for a medical school to be opened at Andong National University and sent it to the presidential office, the National Assembly, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare. It argues the medical school opening could raise education standards and draw young talents to the area in North Gyeongsang.

A special bill calling for the establishment of a medical school and a university hospital at Sunchon National University was also filed with the National Assembly Education Committee in February. The bill sponsor Rep. Kim Hoi-jae of the Democratic Party pointed out South Jeolla was the weakest in medical infrastructure. A People Power Party lawmaker pitched for increased medical school quota at Daejin University in Pocheon, citing the low medical school quota in northern Gyeonggi.

Politicians are competing for medical schools as they can help win more votes. The Ministry of Education consulted with the Ministry of Health and Welfare in December to raise the medical school quota.

But the lack of doctors cannot be fulfilled by opening more medical schools and accepting more medical school applicants. For instance, new doctors from medical schools opening next year are expected to join the pipeline after 2035 at the earliest.

The lack of doctors in essential fields stems from the current structure of the medical system rather than medical school quota. Reforming the system by raising the national insurance coverage rate for non-popular fields can help reduce students’ preference to join more profitable medical fields. An expansion of medical schools at regional public universities may help ease the shortage of medical infrastructure there, but it can hardly provide immediate relief to those in need.

Nevertheless, there is a need to discuss an increase in the medical school quota. The quota has stayed the same after falling to 3,058 in 2006 from 3,273 in 2000. Demand for medical care is ever-increasing, as 20 percent of the population would be seniors by 2026. Active doctors per 1,000 remains at 2.1 as of 2021, below the average of 3.4 among OECD members.

Although the issue requires a debate, it must not be used to buy votes in elections. A medical school needs the backing of a large hospital for training and experienced professors. Its impact on the regional medical infrastructure also requires a deep study. The government and politicians must also draw a roadmap to nurture medical scientists to find new drugs and cures.