The number of children and adolescents with diabetes and rare diseases in elementary, middle, and high schools across the country is on the rise, but the number of health workers in schools is shrinking, raising concerns. (Credit: Getty Images) 
The number of children and adolescents with diabetes and rare diseases in elementary, middle, and high schools across the country is on the rise, but the number of health workers in schools is shrinking, raising concerns. (Credit: Getty Images) 

The number of students with pediatric and adolescent diabetes and rare diseases is increasing, but that of health workers in elementary, middle, and high schools has decreased.

Rep. Kim Young-ho of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly's Education Committee, released data on the status of diabetic students in elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide submitted by the Ministry of Education on Thursday and emphasized the need to expand medical support.

According to the ministry data, the total number of pediatric and adolescent diabetes students, including type 1 and type 2 diabetes, increased by 23.9 percent from 3,111 in 2021 to 3,855 as of April 2023.

Aside from diabetes, the number of students with rare and incurable diseases also increased by 14.21 percent, from 2,470 to 2,821, over the period.

On the other hand, there is a shortage of health personnel to provide medical support for students. According to different data submitted by the education ministry, the number of health personnel deployed to elementary and secondary schools expanded to 1,780 to respond to Covid-19 in 2022 from 746 in 2021. This year, however, the number stood at 1,272, down 28.5 percent from the previous year.

There were also large regional gaps. Gyeonggi Province, for instance, hasn't had any health workers other than nurses since 2021. Busan, Ulsan, and North Jeolla Province also recorded zero health workers this year after the temporary recruitment for the Covid-19 response ended.

"In February, President Yoon Seok-yeol said he would place nurses in schools for children in need of medical support, but the mismatch between students in need of medical support and health workers remains severe," Rep. Kim noted.

He emphasized that special measures should be taken to ensure that children with incurable diseases and juvenile diabetes can study without worries.

"The government should expand the number of health workers and upgrade the school medical support system in cooperation with national hospitals in each region," he added.

 

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