'There are many (doctors) who significantly lack common sense. Their values and judgments are very different,' Mr Aso, whose family runs a hospital, had told a meeting of local governors, according to Jiji Press and other media.

He made the remark as Japan struggles to produce enough doctors and after a series of incidents in which struggling hospitals refused to accept severely ill or injured people who later died, including a pregnant woman.

The hospitals refused care because they were already overwhelmed with other patients and had no more room for extra patients.

Soon after the governors' meeting, Mr Aso apologised, saying he did not mean to demean the entire community of physicians.

'I have many doctor friends. But I feel many of them are not quite on the same wavelength as mine,' he told reporters.

'I apologise if my comment offended serious doctors,' Mr Aso said.

The comment came as Mr Aso suffers falling public support, while opposition mounts pressure on him to call snap elections.

'It is the prime minister who lacks common sense,' said Mr Yukio Hatoyama, secretary-general of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan.

The Japan Medical Association, a powerful lobbying force, expressed its disbelief at Mr Aso's comment.

'I cannot believe that a prime minister says that. We must confirm facts of the matter,' said Mr Toshio Nakagawa, board member of the industry group. -- AFP