S. Korea govt offers first compromise in effort to end doctors' strike

Seoul: South Korea s government on Friday offered its first concession to striking doctors in an effort to end a two month long walkout prompted by pr...

Seoul: South Korea's government on Friday offered its first concession to striking doctors in an effort to end a two-month-long walkout prompted by proposed increases to medical school enrolment.

Hospitals have been forced to cancel crucial treatments and surgeries since thousands of trainee doctors walked out on February 20 to protest an increase in annual admissions by 2,000 slots, starting next year.

While the government says its plan would ease doctor shortages, medical professionals and trainees have said the changes will erode the quality of education and health services.

This week, the heads of six public universities suggested reducing the enrolment increase by up to 50 percent and allowing universities the autonomy to set their own admission quotas, as a potential way to end the strike.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo told reporters Friday that the government "accepts the suggestions from the presidents of national universities".