In January Juche 41 (1952), President Kim Il Sung called an official of the Ministry of Public Health, proposing a free medical system in the country. He said that although the country was in hard time the free medical system should be enforced for the people's health, adding that nothing was more important than people's lives.

A few days later, he made public a work, in which he referred to the necessities, significance, possibilities and conditions for carrying into practice the system and clearly indicated the principles and ways to that effect.

Cabinet Decision No. 203 on enforcing the system throughout the country from January 1, 1953 was announced on November 13 that year.

World media described this measure as a "'large bomb No. 203' tantamount to 10 A-bombs".

Thanks to the President's deep care, a section doctor system was introduced in the 1960s and the Public Health Law adopted in 1980, which legally guarantees the best socialist health system.

The public health system remained in force even in the days of the Arduous March when the country was undergoing difficulties.