Presidential office expresses regret at doctors’ insistence on revisiting admissions issue

SEOUL, The presidential office expressed regret Tuesday at doctors' insistence that the government revisit the medical school admissions issue from scratch. Jang Sang-yoon, senior presidential secretary for social policy, also expressed frustration that doctors' groups have refused to engage in dialogue with the government despite its offers to talk. "The government proposed a consultation body composed only of members of the medical community and the government, but the medical community is refusing to take part in one-on-one dialogue while insisting only on revisiting the issue from scratch," Jang said during a press briefing at the presidential office. "We consider it extremely regrettable." Jang called on the medical community to come forward for talks, in whatever format and with whatever subject, so that the two sides can hold "rational and constructive discussions." In particular, he called for a positive response before the planned launch of a special medical reform committee later this week, say ing the government is open to discussions if the medical community comes forward with a unified proposal on a rational alternative to the government's decision to raise the medical school admission quota by 2,000 seats. About 12,000 trainee doctors have left their worksites since Feb. 20 in protest of the admissions hike, forcing major hospitals to delay or cancel surgeries and other public health services. Source: Yonhap News Agency