61566    Both the Ministry of Education and university hospitals should start working on the preparation for a mandatory internship system as soon as possible.

61567    While there are voices among the university hospitals arguing "training in one department is important to groom interns to become specialists in specialty areas," it should not be too late for interns to choose their specialty after having gained skills to provide holistic medical examination through the comprehensive training.

61568    From now on, the major challenge will be how to secure the funds.

61569    As approximately 13,000 interns receive clinical training every year, if they are to be properly paid based on the mandatory designation, an annual budget of as much as 40 billion yen will be needed.

61570    The upgrading of training facilities and wage hike for mentor doctors should be carried out as well.

61571    There needs to be a full discussion with related parties including the Japan Medical Association.

61572    Once clinical training becomes mandatory, interns will be unable to take part-time jobs during internship.

61573    This will hurt those hospitals that were hiring interns at a low wage, but it cannot be helped.

61574    This will also be the preferred direction for patients who have been attended by doctors-in-training.

61575    To realize high-quality health care, where doctors and patients are united by mutual trust, it will be critical to not only improve clinical training but also medical education, the national examination for the physicians' license and continuing education for doctors.

61576    In the same breath, we hope to see more high-caliber doctors certified in specialized fields.

61577    Consistent medical training with a holistic approach is being sought.

61578    During the talks held on the 10th in Washington, DC, Foreign Minister Yohei Kono and Mr. Warren Christopher, the US Secretary of State, have reached an agreement on the efforts to promote the aid measures for North Korea's conversion process to light water nuclear reactors and have confirmed the establishment of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) in February.

61579    In the meantime, it is expected that 50,000 tons of crude oil will be supplied to North Korea during this week, based on the US-North Korea "basic framework agreement."

61580    They began loading a tanker with crude oil for North Korea on the 11th.