• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.41-49
• /
• 2013

Purpose: Economic and social pressures are driving Korea to reform its mental health services. However, it is not easy for the governments to find to the proper method for the mental health service network. This study is to find the mental health service network in Japan. Methods: The survey was conducted by researches and field studies. 1) Researches for mental health service network and facilities. 2) Field study is for Mental Health and Welfare Network in Tokyo. Results: The result of this study can be summarized into three points. The first one, Reform measures are beginning to promote the concept of "normalization" in japanese society. The second one, Facilities of Mental health and welfare system designed by level that can be providing places for people with mental problems. The third one, Facilities consist of barrier-free environment for people with mental problems.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.256-266
• /
• 2017

Background: Primary health care (PHC) plays a major role to ensure the basic right and equal distribution of the essential health care services. This study presents comparative analyses of PHC in Korea and Uzbekistan, discusses the existing scenario and the challenges, and provides recommendations. Methods: This study reviewed secondary data from Korea's National Statistical Information Service and the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Statistic, regulatory legislation, research reports, and policy papers by research and international institutions. We focus on comparing input and outcome health data, PHC structure, and health expenditure. Results: Overall health status of the population in Korea is better than in Uzbekistan; both countries achieved more than 95% immunization coverage. The reforms implemented in both countries provide initial health care service delivery. However, there are several challenges such as the distribution of the staff between urban and rural areas and interest of the graduates on specialization rather than working in PHC system. Conclusion: PHC plays an important role in the provision of medical services to the population, addressing both health and social problems; it is the best tool for achieving universal coverage for basic health needs of the population. The community health practitioners in Korea and nurses in Uzbekistan plays main role in universal coverage through providing essential health care services. Continuous reform of the PHC system should be directed to strengthen the capacity of the PHC staff in health promotion knowledge and activities as well as to encourage population to improve their own health.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.101-118
• /
• 2008

Japanese national health expenditure was 8.0% of GDP in 2004, and it was lower than average of OECD countries. But it has increased rapidly in recent years. Japan has relatively many acute care beds and high-price medical equipments, and the average length of stay is long. Japanese government is trying healthcare reform to contain healthcare expenditure, increase the efficiency of management and improve the quality of healthcare. As healthcare policies for hospitals such as DPC (Diagnosis Procedure Combination) for acute care beds, reduction of long-term care beds, and functional differentiation and liaison among healthcare institutions are implemented, the number of hospitals in financial difficulties is increasing. The serious situation urges hospitals to adapt to changes and search new directions of management. They need to establish and implement appropriate positioning strategy, and increase management efficiencies. Korean healthcare system has similarities with Japanese in many aspects. The recent reform and changes in Japanese healthcare system and hospitals give suggestions to Korean hospitals as to how they can prepare for environmental changes and improve management.

• Journal of forensic and investigative science
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.44-56
• /
• 2006

The reform necessity of medicolegal death investigation system is continuously issued. The problems from the current death investigation system are discussed, specially on the professionalism of the involved personnel such as policemen, doctors, prosecutors. Death investigation exists not only to prosecute the criminals but also primarily to protect the general public's health, safety, and welfare. The reform proposals of death investigation system are followed as below. Statutes require that the prosecutor be notified of certain deaths. All deaths that may reasonably result from anything other than natural disease should be investigated. A death certificate is a legal document which authenticate a death, therefore it is issued by the doctor. The postmortem examination must be rearranged on the university base and performed by the qualified doctors who are trained at least in pathology. The police officer specified in death investigation and forensic identification should be encouraged to keep doing their special work in many ways.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.396-412
• /
• 2014

Background: As a reform plan of health care system, Accountable Care Organization (ACO) has became an object of attention in the United States after Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was enacted. ACO is a group of various health care providers and provide coordinated care to its assigned beneficiaries. If ACOs improve the quality level and reduce the cost of care, they can get financial incentives. Under the discussion for a quite long time and demonstration projects, ACO has been established. We aimed to analysis and discuss the history, policy mechanism, contents, status and outcomes of ACO. Also, we intended to suggest political implication Korean health care system with regard to ACO. Methods: We searched the articles related ACO in PubMed and selected several available papers about ACO. Total 56 studies were reviewed and categorized three parts; demonstration projects for formation of ACO, policy mechanism and agenda, empirical results of ACO performance. Results: As a result, establishment of ACO was successful partly in the US. It seems to be due to various project and pilot test for verification in the long time. The empirical effect of ACO was also identified in a few study but it needs more evidences to judge its positive effect. Conclusion: In Korea, there are arguments for the application of ACO. However it is difficult to implement a ACO by different political conditions between Korean and US. Nevertheless ACO proposed us the necessity of paradigm shift in our health policy and could be significant to national policy orientation in the future.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.123-130
• /
• 2006

The study was aimed to recommend the ways for improving regulatory system of quasi-drugs in governmental authority by comparing with other countries. According to the regulations, the scope of quasi-drugs includes 3 categories of 1) the health aids made of textile, rubber and paper, 2) the health aids which have very minimal effects or no any effects on humans, and 3) disinfectants and pesticides. In US, these quasi-drugs in Korea are classified into 5 categories of medical device, cosmetics, OTC drugs, dietary supplements and pesticides. To improve quasi-drugs administration in Korea, it is concluded that several measures should be implemented : 1) establish clear criteria for classifying into quasi-drugs and more detailed guidelines on designation of quasi-drugs, 2) reform current regulations to meet 3-categories characteristics, supplement detailed guidelines on quasi-drugs administration for effective application process, and update relevant regulations for efficacy, safety and quality, 3) update quasi-drug monographs, 4) re-evaluate current classification of individual quasi-drugs, 5) develop comprehensive list by ingredients, 6) reform post-marketing management system for safety and quality, 7) strengthen the review agency function by increasing the number of experts, 8) develop the database for quasi-drugs for effective information management.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.47-69
• /
• 1990

The measures taken to reform the Dutch health insurance system hold valuable lessons for countries such as Korea, where there has been increased concern regarding the efficiency and effectiveness of the health services provided. The growing literature on comparative health insurance policies suggests that nations can learn from each other. In addition, Korean policymakers have shown great interest in the health insurance systems of foreign countries, particularly in Japan. The development of Korea's health insurance scheme during the past 12 years has made a significant contribution to the increased accessibility of health care services. Although the insurance coverage is universal, the health insurance system today in Korea is by no means a product of systematic and planned efforts. Moreover, it lacks due considerations of insured's needs as well as the long-term objectives of the social security health care system. There are growing gaps in premium burdens and benefits between the rural health insurance program and the employee's health insurance programs. Furthermore, the regional health insurance program is experiencing financial difficulties in spite of the fact that the amount of the government subsidy has been sharply increased in recent years. Under the present payment method solely based on the fee-for-service schedule, both consumers and providers are encouraged to utilize and prescribe more services. The combination of the utilization-inducing reimbursement system and continuous pushes for expanding health insurance has played a crucial role in raising the country's medical bills. Current trends in Korea's health care sector and those anticipated in the near future necessitate changes in the structure and funding of health care. As indicated in the above, there are various shortcomings in this context, the health policy authority in Korea can draw valuable lessons from the Dutch experiences in reforming their health insurance system. The main elements of the Dutch reform measures are a restructuring of the insurance system and a greater role for market forces in the health care system. On this basis a new system will be created which reflects the social nature of health care while at the same time containing sufficient mechanisms to allow the health care sector to operate in a cost-effective and efficient manner.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.101-108
• /
• 1994

This study was conducted by community survey of 215 community health practitiner's posts and literature review of official documents. The result was as follows ; 1. The role and responsibility of community health practitioner's post must be studied by the community health practitioner and the community health leader, and on the basement of community health needs, community development plan, and reforom of health care system. 2. Comprehensive health care of community is very important role and responsibility of community health practitioners. However, it was supervised by the senior community health practitioner in provincial government. 3. The community health practitioner must be trained by formal inservice educational program focused on comprehensive health care. 4. The community health practitoner must be the health guider and health leader as the member of community.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.195-196
• /
• 2018

The Korean Academy of Health Policy and Management (KAHPM) has shown remarkable achievements in the field of health policy and management in Korea for the last 30 years. The KAHPM consists of experts in various fields of health policy and management, and has been the leading academic discussion forum for health policy agendas of interest to the public. Health Policy and Management (HPM), the official journal of the KAHPM, published the first issue of volume 1 in October, 1991 and is publishing the second issue of volume 28 as of 2018. Currently, it is one of Korea' main journals in the field of health policy and management. HPM has published a special issue in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the KAHPM. The HPM invited authors, including former presidents of the KAHPM and current board members, to write about main issues in health policy and management. Although the HPM tried to set up an invited author on all subjects in the health policy and management field, 19 papers are published, that completed the peer review process by August, 2018. The authors of the special issue of the 30th anniversary of the KAHPM include six former presidents, a senior professor, and 12 board members. The subjects of this issue are reform of the healthcare delivery system, health insurance and medical policy, reform of health system governance, the role of National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs (KIHASA) and the National Evidence-based healthcare Collaborating Agency (NECA), ethical aspects of health policy change, regional disparities of healthcare, healthcare accreditation, new healthcare technology evaluation system, globalization of the healthcare industry, the epidemiological investigator system, the quarantine system, safety and disaster, and official development assistance. There are some remaining topics to deal with for the KAHPM: aged society, anti-smoking, non-infectious disease, suicide, healthcare resources, emergency medical care, out-of-pocket money, medical fee payment system, medical aid system, long-term care insurance, industrial accident compensation insurance, community-centered health welfare system, and central government and local government of health. The HPM will continue to publish review articles on the main topics in health policy and management. This is because the KAHPM, which has been the leading academic society of Korea's health policy and management for the last 30 years, feels responsible for continuing its mission for the next 30 years.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.19-27
• /
• 2016

Purpose: This study shows a changing tendency of Japanese psychiatric hospitals, presenting "Visions in Reform of Mental Health and Medical Welfare", changed to "Hospitalized Medical Treatment to Living in the Community" and reducing the number of beds since 2004. Methods: This study uses a documentary survey, especially Jananese "Visions in Reform of Mental Health and Medical Welfare System" and a field survey on hospital built for early treatment and return to society after 2004. Results: Change tendencies of psychiatric hospitals are 1) diversification of isolation room and ward, 2) cluster of patient's room, 3) phased organization of space, 4)individualization. Implication: This study will be an important data for researching plan of Korea psychiatric hospital which needs to change by global tendency.