In an exclusive interview with The Straits Times, he described South Korea's healthcare system as "among the best in the world" and vowed to stay the course on his reform agenda as he approaches the midpoint of his five-year tenure in November.
After the South Korean government announced in early February its plan to increase the annual intake of medical school students by 2,000 from the current quota of 3,058, about 12,000 junior doctors - who have complained about being overworked and underpaid walked off their jobs. Some senior doctors followed suit, while medical students boycotted lessons.
South Korea will become a super-aged society in 2025, with the number of people aged 65 or older projected to hit 10 million by that year.
"This means an explosive increase in medical needs," said Mr Yoon in written replies to questions from ST. "It is patently obvious that more doctors, nurses and caregivers are needed to respond to this demand." Pointing out that it will take at least a decade to fully educate and train medical doctors, he noted that the country's medical school quota has not been adjusted in 30 years despite "significant increases" in income level and the elderly population.
Denne historien er fra October 08, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
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Denne historien er fra October 08, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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BLACK DAY FOR BRITISH PUBS
At her London pub, landlady Kate Davidson has taken to issuing Guinness ration cards, but the beer still ran out amid a British shortage of Ireland's national drink.
Her Last Gifts
It was exhausting, he sighed. But Carol insisted; her name being what it was and his, she said with a big grin, being Chris. Remember, this is the blessed spirit of the season, to give as we have been given.
When You Think About Me
She empties the last drawer and, between stray baubles, there's the cookie tin, the one hunted down from some narrow shop in Liverpool because it didn't ship here.
Gift Of The Magi
Let's say you never intended to use Magi. Let's say you know about all the scandals: the accusations of stolen data, the EU lawsuits, the CEO's abhorrent behaviour. Let's say you don't even believe the outlandish social media claims that the app is magical, like actual magic. You know it's not possible it reads your mind, plumbs your soul, knows your heart's desires. You're not so gullible.
Ho Ren Yung: Steering global brand evolution of Banyan Group
Ms Ho Ren Yung, deputy chief executive of Banyan Group, oversaw the company's brand relaunch in a bumper year of 19 openings in 2024. These included Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto in Japan and Angsana Tengchong in China.
Jury-rigged Hotpot
The Japan Home folding table was just big enough to accommodate two.
Tales of love, peace and hope
The Sunday Times invites five authors to pen short stories around the theme of A Christmas Gift
Japan: Taking centre stage in Singapore and beyond
Scroll through your social media feed this holiday season, and practically everyone you know is in Japan or making plans to vacation there.
UOB: Most influential patron in Singapore art scene
UOB's \"day job\" is handling loans, deposits and a wealth of diverse portfolios. But the bank cemented its role as the most influential patron in the Singapore art scene in 2024, investing good chunks of cash in both arts and arts education.
Fong Chi Chung: Putien restaurants make dining out more affordable
In a year where diners made themselves scarce - preferring to spend their strong Singapore dollars overseas, and leading restaurant owners and chefs to despair over empty dining rooms - this power lister made a power move that others in the industry are watching closely.
