S. Korea to improve military medical services

South Korea announced Friday a set of measures aimed at improving military medical services, after a newly conscripted soldier died of encephalomeningitis earlier this year. The government will hire 1,600 military medical personnel including medics and nurses and increase a number of career medics from the current 3 percent to 12 percent by 2016, the defense ministry said. Under the five-year blueprint, the government also plans to expand military vaccinations and promote cooperation between military hospitals and civilian hospitals, according to the ministry. The government estimates the plan will cost some 480 billion won (412 million U.S. dollars) for the next five years. The move comes after a 19-year-old conscript trainee died of encephalomeningitis in April due to alleged misdiagnosis, generating public criticism for military medical services. All able-bodied South Korean men must serve about two years in military before the age of 30.