Gov't to raise med school admissions quota by 2,000 from 2025 의대정원 2,000명확대

[김우정]

정부는 2025년부터 의대정원을 2,000명 확대하기로 했습니다.
과중한 업무와 낮은 수가의 소아과, 응급치료, 산부인과 등의 부족한 의사를 늘리기위한 것입니다.
의사가 부족한 지방과 인구고령화를 위한 대비이기도 합니다.
우리나라의 의 의사 수는 OECD 평균보다 낮고 의대졸업자수도 현저히 낮습니다.
의사수를 정할 때 의료서비스를 제공하는 의사보다는 받는 일반 시민의 의견이 더 반영해야하지 않을까요? 
 
Gov't to raise med school admissions quota by 2,000 from 2025
정부, 2025년부터 의대정원 2,000명확대

By Jun Ji-hye 전지혜 기자
Posted : 2024-02-06 16:41   Updated : 2024-02-06 19:55
Korea Times

Health Minister Cho Kyu-hong holds a media briefing at the government complex in Seoul, Tuesday, adressing the government's decision to raise the annual enrollment quota at medical schools by 2,000, starting in 2025. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul  조규홍 보건복지부 장관이 화요일 정부 서울청사에서 언론 브리핑을 갖고 2025년부터 의과대학의 연간 입학정원을 2000명 늘리기로 한 정부 결정에 대해 연설하고 있다. 코리아 타임즈 사진 심현철 기자

Doctors poised to go on general strike after Lunar New Year holiday
의사들, 설연휴 끝나고 총파업 돌입

The government will raise the annual enrollment quota at medical schools by 2,000 starting in 2025 from the current 3,058, Health Minister Cho Kyu-hong announced, Tuesday.
조규홍 보건복지부 장관은 화요일 정부가 2025년부터 의과대학의 연간 입학정원을 현재의 3,058명에서 2,000명 증가시킬 것이라고 발표했다.

The ultimate goal is to ensure improved public access to medical services, particularly in rural areas, and to alleviate chronic shortages of physicians in critical fields such as pediatrics and emergency care.
궁극적인 목표는 특히 시골지역에서 의료 서비스에 대한 대중의 접근성을 향상시키고 소아과 및 응급 치료와 같은 중요한 분야의 의사들의 만성적인 부족을 완화하는 것이다.

Despite strong opposition from doctors, the Ministry of Health and Welfare made the decision during a health care policy meeting presided over by Cho. The meeting was attended by government officials, healthcare experts, as well as representatives of patients and consumers.
의사들의 강력한 반대에도 불구하고, 보건복지부는 조장관이 주재한 보건의료정책회의에서 이 같은 결정을 내렸다. 이 회의에는 환자와 소비자 대표 뿐만 아니라 정부 관계자, 의료 전문가들이 참석했다.

In response to the government's decision, the Korea Medical Association (KMA), a doctors' organization, issued a warning of a general strike following the conclusion of the Lunar New Year holiday on Feb. 12.
정부의 결정에 대응하여, 의사 단체인 대한의사협회는 2월 12일 설 연휴가 끝난 후 총파업을 경고했다.

“Today’s decision will serve as a momentum for the country’s medical reforms,” the health minister said during the meeting. “Now is the golden time to revive essential treatment fields and prepare for an aging society.”
"오늘의 결정은 국가의 의료 개혁을 위한 모멘텀이 될 것이다," 라고 보건부 장관이 회의에서 말했다. "지금은 필수 치료 분야를 되살리고 고령화 사회에 대비할 골든타임 이다."

The total admissions quota of the 40 medical schools in Korea has remained unchanged at 3,058 since 2006.
우리나라 40개 의과대학의 총 입학정원은 2006년 이후 3,058명으로 변동이 없다.

The ministry has not yet determined the distribution of the additional 2,000 students among medical schools. The specifics will be disclosed later following consultations with the Ministry of Education.
교육부는 의대에 추가로 2,000명을 배정할지 아직 결정하지 않았다. 구체적인 내용은 교육부와 협의 후 추후 공개될 예정이다.

The health minister said the government will prioritize efforts to increase the quota at medical schools situated outside the Seoul metropolitan area. This aligns with the primary goal of the policy, which is to address regional disparities and improve access to medical services in underserved areas.
보사부 장관은 정부가 수도권 이외의 지역에 위치한 의과 대학의 정원을 늘리기 위한 노력을 우선시할 것이라고 말했다. 이것은 지역적인 차이를 해결하고 서비스가 부족한 지역의 의료 서비스에 대한 접근성을 향상시키는 그 정책의 주요 목표와 일치한다.

The government has been seeking to increase the number of doctors in the country by raising the medical school enrollment quota, amid continued shortages of physicians in crucial areas such as pediatrics, emergency care and obstetrics, which are less popular among doctors due to a heavy workload and low pay compared to other popular fields such as plastic surgery. The move also aims to revive regional medical services and prepare for the nation's transition to an aged society.
성형외과와 같은 다른 인기 있는 분야에 비해 과중한 업무량과 낮은 급여로 인해 의사들 사이에서 인기가 낮은 소아과, 응급 치료 및 산부인과와 같은 중요한 분야의 의사들이 계속 부족한 가운데 정부는 의대 입학 정원을 증가시켜 의사 수를 늘리려고 노력해 왔다. 이 조치는 또한 지역 의료 서비스를 되살리고 국가가 고령 사회로 전환하는 것을 준비하는 것을 목표로 한다.

President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of presidential office 윤석열 대통령이 20일 서울 대통령실에서 국무회의를 열고 발언하고 있다. 대통령실 제공

“Expanding the number of doctors is an imperative task that cannot be continuously postponed,” President Yoon Suk Yeol said during a Cabinet meeting earlier in the day, noting that the country is expected to need 15,000 more doctors by 2035 due to growing demand for health care spurred by an aging population.
윤석열 대통령은 이날 오전 국무회의에서 고령화에 따른 의료 수요 증가로 2035년까지 1만5천 명의 의사가 더 필요할 것으로 예상된다며 "의사 수 확대는 계속 미룰 수 없는 절박한 과제"라고 말했다.

During a media briefing held later in the day, Cho said, “By raising the medical school enrollment quota by 2,000 annually, the country will have 10,000 more doctors in 2035.”
조장관은 이날 오후 열린 언론 브리핑에서 "의대 입학 정원을 연간 2천명씩 늘려 2035년에는 1만명의 의사가 더 늘어날 것"이라고 말했다.

The government’s push to increase the number of medical school students has been largely supported by the public and even opposition parties, following a number of instances where patients died in ambulances while looking for emergency rooms after being rejected by hospitals suffering from a shortage of doctors or beds.
의사나 병상 부족에 시달리다 병원에서 거부당해 응급실을 찾다가 구급차 안에서 숨지는 사례가 속출하자 정부의 의대정원 증원 추진은 국민과 심지어 야당의 지지를 받은 측면이 크다.

A shortage of pediatricians has also forced many parents to wait for hours to see a doctor when their children are sick.
또한 소아과 의사의 부족으로 인해 많은 부모들이 자녀가 아플 때 의사를 만나기 위해 몇 시간 동안 기다려야 했다.

According to the health ministry, the number of doctors per 1,000 people in the country stood at 2.6, which is below the OECD average of 3.7. In addition, the number of medical school graduates stood at 7.2 per 100,000 people as of 2020, lower than the OECD average of 13.6.
보건부에 따르면, 한국의 인구 1,000명당 의사 수는 2.6명으로 OECD 평균인 3.7명보다 낮다. 게다가, 의대 졸업자 수는 2020년 기준 인구 10만 명당 7.2명으로 OECD 평균인 13.6명보다 낮았다.

A health ministry official emphasized that the government took into account the opinions of doctors' groups when formulating its medical reform policies. The official cited the policy packages announced on Feb. 1, aimed at reducing the legal risks stemming from medical accidents and establishing a more equitable compensation scheme for doctors for their services.
보건부 관계자는 정부가 의료 개혁 정책을 수립할 때 의사 단체의 의견을 고려했다고 강조했다. 그 관계자는 의료 사고로 인한 법적 위험을 줄이고 의사들의 서비스에 대한 더 공평한 보상체계를 확립하기 위해 2월 1일에 발표된 정책 패키지를 인용했다.

“We respect the medical circle and have communicated sufficiently with doctors to listen to their demands,” the official said.
이 관계자는 "의료계를 존중하며 의사들의 요구를 경청할 수 있도록 충분히 소통했다"고 말했다.

Despite the introduction of those policy packages, doctors' groups, including the KMA, remain unconvinced and continue to oppose the hike in medical school quotas. They have voiced concerns that increasing the number of medical school students might compromise the quality of education and training. Instead, they urge the government to concentrate on enhancing the working conditions of physicians and implementing better allocation strategies.
이러한 정책 패키지의 도입에도 불구하고, 대한의사협회를 포함한 의사 단체들은 여전히 확신이 없으며 의대 정원 증가에 계속 반대하고 있다. 그들은 의대생의 수를 늘리는 것이 교육과 훈련의 질을 손상시킬 수 있다고 우려를 표명했다. 대신, 그들은 정부가 의사들의 근무조건을 향상시키고 더 나은 할당 전략을 시행하는 데 집중할 것을 촉구하고 있다.


The KMA warned that it will go on a general strike if the government pushes ahead with its decision on the quota hike.
한국의사협회는 정부가 정원 증원 결정을 강행할 경우 총파업에 돌입할 것이라고 경고했다.

Lee Pil-soo, president of the Korea Medical Association (KMA), speaks during a press conference at the KMA building in Seoul, Tuesday, warning of general strikes in protest against the government's decision to raise the annual enrollment quota at medical schools by 2,000, starting in 2025. Yonhap 이필수 대한의사협회장이 화요일 서울의 대한의사협회 청사에서 기자회견을 갖고 2025년부터 의대의 연간 입학정원을 2,000명 늘리기로 한 정부의 결정에 항의하는 총파업을 경고하고 있다. 연합

“We express regret over the government making a unilateral announcement without sufficient discussions and consultations with the medical circle,” KMA President Lee Pil-soo said during a media conference.
이필수 회장은 기자회견에서 "정부가 의료계와 충분한 논의와 협의 없이 일방적으로 발표한 데 대해 유감을 표명한다,"고 말했다.


On Monday, the Korean Intern Resident Association also announced that a survey conducted on around 10,000 intern and resident doctors showed that 88.2 percent of the respondents agreed with collective actions, including strikes, if the government proceeds with raising the medical school quota.
월요일, 대한인턴 레지던트 협회는 또한 약 1만 명의 인턴과 레지던트 의사들을 대상으로 실시한 설문조사에서 정부가 의대 정원을 늘릴 경우 파업을 포함한 단체 행동에 88.2%가 동의한다고 발표했다.

In 2020, the previous Moon Jae-in government eventually retracted its proposal to raise the medical school admissions quota by 4,000 over 10 years, after facing fierce protests by physicians and trainee doctors as well as medical school students.
2020년, 이전 문재인 정부는 의대생뿐만 아니라 의사와 수습 의사들의 격렬한 항의에 직면하자 결국 의대 입학 정원을 10년간 4,000명 늘리자는 제안을 철회했다.

The health ministry affirmed its commitment to responding firmly to any potential strikes by doctors in accordance with laws and principles.
보건부는 법과 원칙에 따라 의사들의 파업 가능성에 단호히 대응하겠다는 의지를 확인했다.

The ministry warned the leadership of the KMA not to engage in collective actions or incite such steps. It warned that the government would utilize all available means, including administrative measures and legal actions, to respond to any unlawful behaviors that pose a threat to public health.
보건부는 의협지도부에게 단체 행동을 하거나 그러한 조치들을 선동하지 말라고 경고했다. 보건부는 정부가 공중 보건에 위협이 되는 모든 불법적인 행동들에 대응하기 위해 행정적인 조치들과 법적인 조치들을 포함하여 이용 가능한 모든 수단들을 사용할 것이라고 경고했다.

Those who violate such orders can have their licenses suspended under medical laws, or they can face imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to 15 million won ($11,300) under criminal laws, according to the ministry.
보건복지부에 따르면 이러한 명령을 위반한 사람들은 의료법에 따라 면허가 정지되거나 형법에 따라 5년 이하의 징역 또는 1,500만원 이하의 벌금에 처해질 수 있다.

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