North Korea plans to expand medical cooperation with allied countries, including dispatching a clinical research team centered on surgical specialists to China and Russia in the near future.
According to a Daily NK source inside North Korea recently, the Cabinet’s Ministry of Health issued instructions on May 16 to the South Hamgyong province health bureau to form a clinical research team of surgical specialists for deployment to China and Russia.
This follows direct orders from the Central Committee and appears intended to promote self-reliance and scientific advancement in the medical field through foreign cooperation.
Typically, such overseas deployment opportunities are given to specialists from major hospitals in Pyongyang, but this time doctors from provincial areas were included as candidates. Some view this as part of North Korean government’s policy to modernize provincial health care.
Following the directive, the South Hamgyong province health bureau instructed medical institutions within the province to “select deployment candidates centered on experienced medical workers with degrees and academic positions.” The provincial health bureau ordered that orthopedic surgeons be given top priority among surgical specialists.
The provincial health bureau plans to receive recommendations of about 10 candidates from city-level hospitals in Hamhung, Tanchon, Sinpo and other cities, then conduct additional screening to select final deployment candidates. Hospital directors and party secretaries are deeply involved in the selection process.
A “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity
As overseas deployment candidate selections have begun, about 70 preliminary candidates have been narrowed down from major hospitals within the province. Among medical staff, both tension and anticipation are rising over who will be selected for final deployment.
The source said, “Expectations are so high among doctors that they’re calling it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” but added, “Some doctors actually feel burdened and are being cautious because if selected for deployment, they would need to show research results, and this could become a criterion for personal evaluation.”
The source also noted, “Not only surgical doctors but all hospital staff are watching this selection with interest,” adding, “Because no one knows who will be selected, doctors are busy organizing their thesis achievements and other records.”
Meanwhile, the Cabinet’s Ministry of Health is planning to complete overseas deployment candidate selection by next month, then coordinate specific deployment schedules through consultations with Chinese and Russian counterparts in July.
