Healthcare workers in North Hamgyong province are unsettled by a surprise audit of the medical sector ordered by the government.
According to a source in the province, the Ministry of Public Health directed provincial health bureaus to begin surveying medical facilities on Dec. 4. Five days later, the provincial health bureau instructed all medical facilities to conduct a thorough inventory of their staff, facilities, equipment, and pharmaceutical supplies, with particular emphasis on the condition of medical devices and medications.
The unexpected nature of the survey has left medical staff confused. Many hospitals lack basic administrative records about their workforce, including staff numbers and experience levels, as well as equipment conditions. There are concerns that attempting to compile all this information simultaneously will severely disrupt hospital operations.
Hospital administrators are particularly concerned about documenting medical equipment and drug supplies, as many basic tools like stethoscopes, acupuncture needles, and cupping glasses are purchased by staff personally rather than provided by the government.
One administrator noted, “This survey will expose that the quality and availability of medical equipment and medicines depends on individual doctors’ personal finances, and that patients avoid seeking care from financially struggling doctors.”
The survey’s scope includes examining an emergency underground wartime hospital in Chongjin’s Sinam district and a proposed hospital site in Undok county. Results must be submitted by Dec. 20.
“Hospitals are in chaos,” the source said. “Staff are rushing to complete the assessment while simultaneously checking facilities and equipment functionality. Since these hospitals largely exist for appearance’s sake, the survey is creating problems for both doctors and patients.”
On Dec. 7, the state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper claimed that provinces had been working to improve local medical services to provide advanced healthcare nationwide.
However, North Korea’s healthcare system, despite its nominal commitment to free medical care, preventive medicine, and area-specific doctors, faces serious challenges due to economic stagnation, supply shortages, and widespread unofficial medical practices. The system’s main problems include deteriorating infrastructure, equipment shortages, and poor working conditions for medical staff.
