South Korean PM says medical students’ decision to return to school a ‘big step forward’
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Members of the Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union taking part in a rally against the government's labour policy in Seoul, on July 2.
PHOTO: EPA
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South Korea’s Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on July 13 described the decision of the country’s medical students to return to school
Medical students had walked out of school
Trainee doctors had argued that this plan would lower the quality of medical education, and said more reform was needed to attract doctors into essential care such as emergency or paediatrics instead.
On July 12, protesting students announced that they would return to campus, and called on the authorities to normalise academic schedules.
In a Facebook post, Mr Kim said he will make efforts to find a solution to the issue, after President Lee Jae Myung instructed him and the government to find ways to address it.
“What the people want will matter,” he wrote.
The Korean Medical Association, the main group lobbying for doctors, had earlier urged the government to take steps to restore the academic calendar and improve training conditions.
However, a specific timeline for the return was not provided.
“We will place our trust in the government and Parliament and commit to returning to school to help normalise medical education and the healthcare system,” the association said in a statement, which was jointly issued with Parliament’s education committee and lobby groups representing medical students.
It also called on the President and the government to form a task force to address long-term reforms in medical education and training, as well as to ensure the participation of all stakeholders, including students.
