NHC sends team to DPRK for medical rescue

The National Health Commission (NHC), China’s top health watchdog, dispatched a team of medical experts to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on the morning of April 23, following a major road accident in the country the day before.

The NHC initiated the health emergency response overnight immediately after learning of the accident.

Medical specialists from the intensive care unit, thoracic surgery department, neurosurgery department and spine surgery department were on the team.

They come from top hospitals in China, including the Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing Tiantan Hospital and Beijing Jishuitan Hospital.

Medical devices and medicines were provided to the team.

The accident, which occurred in North Hwanghae province, south of Pyongyang, killed 32 Chinese tourists and four people of DPRK, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a routine press briefing.

Lu said that two Chinese tourists were seriously injured and their situation is extremely critical, reported Xinhua.