SEOUL: North Korea's health care system is in shambles with doctors sometimes performing amputations without anesthesia and working by candlelight in hospitals lacking essential medicine, heat and power, a rights watchdog said on Thursday.
North Korea's state health care system has been deteriorating for years as the country's economic difficulties worsen. Many of the country's 24 million people also reportedly face health problems related to chronic malnutrition, such as tuberculosis and anemia, Amnesty International said.
"The people of North Korea suffer significant deprivation in their enjoyment of the right to adequate health care, in large part due to failed or counterproductive government policies," Amnesty said in a research report on the state of North Korea's health care system.
The report was based on interviews with more than 40 North Koreans who have defected, mostly to South Korea, as well as organizations and health care professionals who work with North Koreans. However, Amnesty researchers did not have direct access to North Korea, one of the world's most closed countries.
"During operations, patients, if lucky, are given anesthesia but sometimes not enough to completely control the pain," the report said. "Without essential medicines, health facilities in North Korea clearly cannot provide services such as surgery without endangering the lives of their patients."
Doctors also often work without pay and have little or no medicine to dispense, and must reuse the scant medical supplies at their disposal, the report said. North Korea says it provides free medical care to all its citizens. But Amnesty said most interviewees said they had "paid" doctors cigarettes, alcohol or money to receive medical care.
North Korea's state health care system has been deteriorating for years as the country's economic difficulties worsen. Many of the country's 24 million people also reportedly face health problems related to chronic malnutrition, such as tuberculosis and anemia, Amnesty International said.
"The people of North Korea suffer significant deprivation in their enjoyment of the right to adequate health care, in large part due to failed or counterproductive government policies," Amnesty said in a research report on the state of North Korea's health care system.
The report was based on interviews with more than 40 North Koreans who have defected, mostly to South Korea, as well as organizations and health care professionals who work with North Koreans. However, Amnesty researchers did not have direct access to North Korea, one of the world's most closed countries.
"During operations, patients, if lucky, are given anesthesia but sometimes not enough to completely control the pain," the report said. "Without essential medicines, health facilities in North Korea clearly cannot provide services such as surgery without endangering the lives of their patients."
Doctors also often work without pay and have little or no medicine to dispense, and must reuse the scant medical supplies at their disposal, the report said. North Korea says it provides free medical care to all its citizens. But Amnesty said most interviewees said they had "paid" doctors cigarettes, alcohol or money to receive medical care.
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