North and South Korea to exchange physicians
Fri 24 Jun 2005
SEOUL, June 24 (Reuters) - The Red Cross of South and North Korea agreed on Friday to an exchange of physicians to help improve the North's medical standards, which are in deplorable shape, the South's Red Cross said.
The president of the South Korean Red Cross, Han Wan-sang, also agreed in Pyongyang to provide medical supplies and equipment to the Red Cross hospital in the North Korean capital, the South's chapter of the organisation said in a statement.
A Red Cross official in Seoul said the North's medical standard was more than 20 years behind the South's.
"You'll often see beer bottles and recycled tubes being used for IV drips," the official said by telephone.
"It is in very bad shape," said the official who requested anonymity, when asked about the medical standard in the North.
Top North Korean officials and their family members have often travelled abroad for medical treatment.
The South Korean government agreed at high-level talks with the North this week to provide food aid and to begin a project to search for civilians and soldiers who went missing during the 1950-53 Korean War.
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