Mar 28: Prospects for resolving the standoff throughout talks are slim as the government allocated the additional 2,000 medical school admission seats to universities, in a sign that the government won't back down from the plan.

With the mass walkout by trainee doctors continuing for more than five weeks, major general hospitals temporarily shut down part of their wards and rearranged staff.

The five major hospitals -- Asan Medical Center, Samsung Medical Center, Severance Hospital, Seoul National University Hospital and Seoul St. Mary's Hospital -- have suffered more than 1 billion won ($741,344) of losses per day and have been in an emergency management mode to overcome the crisis, according to officials.

Seoul National University Hospital closed 10 out of its 60 wards temporarily, including those for emergency patients and cancer patients after sending patients there to other wards, "for flexible operation given the current situation," an official said.