North Korea bans drug sales in markets

North Korea's authorities have cracked down on what are termed "capitalist trends in the market," by seizing medicines that were sold in markets, according to the Daily NK, which is critical of the hardline Communist regime. Most of the products confiscated in a series of raids over a three-month period were from neighboring China and South Korea, which allegedly included substandard or counterfeit drugs. The crackdown took place in August to October 2006, but has only now been reported outside North Korea.

Private trade formally prohibited

According to the report, the cost of Chinese-made aspirin has increased about 50%, that of an antidiarrheal drug 100% and penicillin around two thirds. Previously, the North Korean government had formally prohibited private sales of drugs, although these were reportedly not rigorously enforced, in part due to problems in ensuring medical supplies in state-run facilities.