North Korea: Poor Health Care
Written by William Hushburn on Thursday, July 15th, 2010
North Korea: Poor Health Care-North Korea has always been dragged into different issues and criticisms. One of these issues is the health care system.
North Korea’s health care is in a condition of a great disorder for years as the country’s economic difficulties worsen.
People in North Korea have been deprived for their right to adequate health care. Reportedly, doctors are forced to perform duties with only daylight or by candlelight. Doctors and other medical personnel are often working without pay. There is also inadequacy of medicines that hampers the performance of the surgeons.
It has been reported that doctors performed amputations without anesthesia. During operations, patients, if lucky, are given anesthesia but not sufficient to completely control the pain.
A 24-year-old patient, whose left ankle was crashed by a moving train when he fell from the carriage, told the Amnesty that a doctor amputated his leg without injecting anesthesia.
The man said, “Five medical assistants held my arms and legs down to keep me from moving. I was in so much pain that I screamed and eventually fainted from pain.”
Reportedly, the people have to pay for the medical services or else they won’t be entertained. It’s tantamount to saying that you don’t have money, you’ll die.
The Amnesty International said that North Korea must ensure transparency in the distribution of food and health assistance and guarantee that the medical personnel are paid regularly and adequately so that they can carry out their duties properly.