Pyongyang, May 16 (KCNA)   

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The Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea convened an emergency consultative meeting again to discuss measures for epidemic prevention on May 15.

Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), guided the consultative meeting.

Attending the meeting were members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and members and alternate members of the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee.

Present there as observers were officials of the state emergency epidemic prevention sector and a leading official of the Ministry of Public Health.

The Political Bureau heard the report by the state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters on the spread of the epidemic as of May 15.

The consultative meeting intensively discussed the issue of reexamining the statewide epidemic prevention work and quickly correcting the deviations revealed in the supply of medicines after the state epidemic prevention system was switched over to the maximum emergency epidemic prevention system.

The respected General Secretary referred to the supply of medicines throughout the country and analyzed the current situation in which the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee issued an emergency order to immediately release and timely supply the state reserve medicines to swiftly contain and control the spread of the epidemic and an order for all pharmacies to switch over to the 24-hour operation system but the orders have not yet been carried out properly and medicines have not been properly supplied to pharmacies.

Pointing out that the medicines provided by the state have not been supplied to inhabitants through pharmacies correctly in time, he said it is because officials of the Cabinet and public health sector in charge of the supply have not rolled up their sleeves, not properly recognizing the present crisis but only talking about the spirit of devotedly serving the people. He strongly criticized the Cabinet and public health sector for their irresponsible work attitude and organizing and executing ability.

Referring to the fact that the judicial and prosecutorial sector that is obliged to powerfully guarantee the implementation of the Party's policies by law has failed to exercise legal supervision and control properly and correct several negative phenomena in the nationwide handling and sale of medicines so as to make the administrative order concerning the supply of medicines be immediately and exactly carried out, he censured the director of the Central Public Prosecutors Office for the idleness and negligence of his duty not feeling any responsibility and compunction and playing any role.

He referred to a series of deviations from the overall epidemic prevention work and took practical measures for correcting them immediately.

He issued an order of the chairman of the WPK Central Military Commission on immediately stabilizing the supply of medicines in Pyongyang City by involving the powerful forces of the military medical field of the People's Army.

He said that if all leading officials do not exert themselves and display their strenuous and fighting spirit, rare ability and wisdom, they can not take the strategic initiative in the ongoing anti-epidemic war.

Stressing that officials should not allow any slightest imperfection and vulnerable points by maintaining high tension and vigilance in the acute anti-epidemic war and scrupulously organizing and guiding every work in a scientific way, he said that they should take the lead in the epidemic prevention campaign through their effective work and result.

On the basis of the detailed analysis of the present epidemic prevention situation in the country, he discussed ways for enforcing the epidemic prevention policies more efficiently and indicated the orientation and goal for the immediate struggle.

The consultative meeting discussed the issue of improving the state's administrative control over the emergency epidemic prevention work, the issue of thoroughly ensuring the hygienic safety of medicines at pharmacies, the issue of further strengthening the legal control over the epidemic prevention work and the issue of enhancing the state's capability for coping with crisis.

Just after ending the meeting, Comrade Kim Jong Un visited pharmacies in Pyongyang City to acquaint himself with the supply of medicines.

He was accompanied by Jo Yong Won and Kim Tok Hun, members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee, Choe Kyong Chol, minister of Public Health, and senior officials of relevant departments of the Party Central Committee.

According to his instruction, members and alternate members of the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee visited pharmacies in Pyongyang to learn about their situation.

He dropped in at pharmacies in Taedonggang District and learnt in detail about the supply and sale of medicines.

He acquainted himself in detail with what kind of medicines have been supplied after the maximum emergency epidemic prevention system came into force, whether medicines have been kept as required by regulations, whether the pharmacies are turned into 24-hour service system, whether they hold consultations with patients, what they have as antipyretic and antibiotic and what kinds of drugs are generally demanded by inhabitants and how much are medicines.

He stressed repeatedly the need to correct the vulnerable points in medicine supply system and take strong measures for transporting medicines.

Saying that most of pharmacies have not been arranged so as to successfully fulfill their function and they are in such a poor situation as they don't have medicine store houses except showcases, he referred to the situation in which salespersons offer service without proper white gowns and hygienic environment does not reach the standard.

Noting that today's epidemic prevention campaign is the one for the people and the one whose masters are the people, he repeatedly called on all the officials to make selfless, devoted efforts for the good of the people with the mindset that they would bear full responsibility for the safety of the country and the well-being of the people.