The National Institute of Medical Sciences, why should it be established in 'Namwon' instead of 'Seoul'?

The National Medical Specialist Graduate School (National University of Medicine) has faced opposition in its decision to establish a branch in Seoul instead of its home base in North Jeolla Province's Namwon. The recent interest in a Seoul location stems from the Ministry of Health and Welfare's plan to repurpose the National Central Hospital, located in Seoul's Dongdaemun area, to accommodate the new institution.

This has led to significant backlash from the local community. The author, who served as an externship dean of North Jeolla Provincial University Hospital from 2016 to 2022, believes that concluding this debate solely on efficiency is misguided. He cites examples from Taiwan and Japan as evidence that a national medical school can thrive outside of a major city.

In Taiwan, the National Chongshan Medical College was established in Taipei, despite being in an urban area, and resulted in a lower graduation rate. In Japan, the regional St. Marianna University School of Medicine in Oita has a graduation rate of 98.5% and a 69.6% retention rate in their assigned regions. The author argues that the solution to the problem is to train public health officials in their local communities, and that this requires a separate stringent education and certification system.

He also points out that infrastructure concerns can be overcome with the right support. Namwon is centrally located between four other national universities, and its proximity allows for interdisciplinary education and collaboration. The author himself has personally witnessed this in action during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, when he provided critical care to patients from the outbreak's epicenter in Gyeongju.

The author concludes that the National Medical Specialist Graduate School should be established in Namwon, as this will ensure a steady supply of qualified medical professionals for the region and address the broader issue of regional medical shortages and potential national security risks.