Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong said Friday the ministry plans to unveil more reform measures in connection with the medical school admission hike as early as next month, in another setback for trainee doctors who have left their worksites for nearly seven months to protest the admission hike. Despite a fierce protest by trainee doctors, the government has finalized a plan for a hike of about 1,500 medical students next year in an effort to address a shortage of doctors in essential services. Cho told lawmakers that the ministry will swiftly discuss with a committee on medical reform how to address a shortage of doctors in essential fields and rural areas and "will announce the first implementation plan with regard to the medical school quota hike early next month." Cho said a shortage of doctors in essential services was a result of delays in medical reforms. The health ministry reported that it had received 4,188 complaints from patients as of Wednesday since junior doctors began leaving hospitals on Feb . 19. When asked about potential deterioration in the quality of education at medical schools due to the hike in the number of medical students, Cho replied that universities are capable of handling the increase with existing facilities. "But as there are concerns about a decline in the quality of education, we plan to cooperate with the education ministry to secure next year's budget to enhance the quality," Cho said. Source:Yonhapi News Agency