The work, published on Jan. 20, 1952, clarifies that the universal free medical care is the most popular policy enforced at state expense and clearly explains its significance and indicates the tasks and ways for making preparations for it.

The President made sure that the universal, free medical system was enforced in all areas of the DPRK from Jan. 1, 1953 and took measures to introduce the complete and universal, free medical system.

He saw to it that the Public Health Law of the DPRK was promulgated in April 1980, providing a legal guarantee for fully granting to the people rights to medical treatment and the promotion of their health and consolidating the socialist public health system.

General Secretary Kim Jong Il worked heart and soul to ensure that the Korean people would benefit from the above-said system, thus making sure that the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital was built and dental and children's hospitals and other specialized ones were constructed in all provinces and cities to raise the level of specialization of healthcare.

The people throughout the country are now provided with all medical services and medicines free of charge by the state and their health and the right to medical treatment are fully guaranteed by the Socialist Constitution and the Public Health Law.

Hospitals and clinics are found not only in the urban and rural areas but in fishermen's and forestry workers' villages and the people are provided with all conditions for healthcare without any inconveniences including the section doctor system.

Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the C.C., the Workers' Party of Korea, made a report.

He noted that the past 60 year-long history in which the universal, free medical care has been enforced is the glorious course in which the most popular policies have been enforced, defended and developed thanks to the wise leadership and warm benevolence of the President and Kim Jong Il.

He underlined the need to effect a turn in the health work as required by the era of a great surge and thus fully glorify the advantages of the socialist health system of the DPRK.