Doctors threaten strike for Oct.6

Doctors will go on an indefinite general strike Oct. 6 unless the government comes up with concrete remedial measures to comply with the medical profession¡¯s demands by Sept. 28, the Korean Medical Association decided at its central committee's marathon session over the night of Sept. 18 through the small hours of Sept. 19.

The demands put forward by the KMA's struggle committee for securing the rights of the medical community call for re-amending the pharmaceutical law and releasing their activist colleagues under detention.

The KMA¡¯s militant committee intends to persuade doctors with small clinics into joining the protest. The latter have remained lukewarm, refraining from taking part in the recent series of intermittent strikes by residents and neighborhood clinics.

During a meeting of the emergency action committee of medical colleges across the country Sept. 18 the representatives from 41 colleges agreed to submit applications for withdrawal from school en masse on Sept. 26. They are expected to follow up with a hunger strike to urge an apology and earnest resumption of dialogue with the government.

Song Sang-Keun songmoon@donga.com