SEOUL, South Korea – The Ministry of Health and Welfare is set to introduce a regional documentation system and establish a public medical academy as part of its core objectives. These plans, revealed on the 18th to the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee, also include institutionalizing remote care and creating a public electronic prescription transmission system.
Key Healthcare Reforms Unveiled
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The Ministry of Health and Welfare outlined a five-point plan focusing on strengthening regional, essential, and public health services.
- Regional documentation system and public medical academy to be established.
- Remote care and public electronic prescription systems to be institutionalized.
- Nursing hospital care expenses will receive health insurance coverage.
- Investment in health and medical R&D will increase, focusing on AI drugs.
- Management of non-paid medical care will be strengthened to ease patient burden.
The Minister of Health and Welfare stated, “We will promote national-centered medical reform that resonates with the public and the medical community, creating a sustainable healthcare system.” The ministry aims to apply health insurance to nursing hospital care expenses, lessening the financial load on citizens. Additionally, plans include reinforcing the basic living security system and expanding illness allowances.
Strengthening Regional Healthcare Access
To bolster regional, essential, and public medical care, the ministry will launch the National Participation Medical Innovation Committee. Financial stability will be enhanced through expanded health insurance support and income-based premium adjustments. National Hospitals are slated for transfer to the Ministry of Hospital to develop them into regional hubs.
Securing adequate medical personnel is a priority, driving the introduction of the regional system and the public medical academy. Exploring public policy numbers and local medical funds will help address disparities in medical services across regions.
Enhancing Patient Safety and Affordability
The ministry plans to solidify remote medical treatment, first piloted during the COVID-19 pandemic. A public electronic prescription transmission system will be established to ensure patient safety and care reliability. Efforts are also focused on managing non-paid medical services, which have been a source of patient concern.
To curb overtreatment and reduce patient costs, the ministry will set price and salary standards. Unnecessary procedures will be minimized, and coverage for rare and incurable diseases will be broadened. Kim Hye-jin, head of the Planning and Coordination Division, noted, “We will promote phased care expenses for nursing hospitals and strengthen the management of overtreatment.”
Nursing and nursing integration services will expand, aiming to alleviate the care burden for patients and their families. This includes easing restrictions for participation in senior general hospitals. The goal is to optimize inpatient structures for both mild and severe patients, offering practical support.
Boosting Health and Medical Research
Investment in health and medical research and development (R&D) will increase to tackle challenges like ultra-aging and essential medical crises. The ministry intends to boost the biohealth industry’s competitiveness by supporting the entire development cycle of AI drugs and utilizing medical artificial intelligence.
Kim added, “We will actively foster the pharmaceutical and bio industry by creating achievements in promising fields such as the development of AI drugs, and improving the drug price compensation system and promoting the advanced regenerative medical treatment system.”
