• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.160-164
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• 2008

This study investigated the current status and drug expenditure of the drug shortage prevention program in Korea. National health insurance claims data from 2001 to 2005 were analyzed for the drugs with inadequate supply, which were designated as shortage prevention drugs (SPDs). Drug use of SPDs have increased every year, but the average increase rate of drug expenditure for SPDs, 13.5% was lower than that for all the reimbursed drugs, 18.6%. Drugs with price increase based on production cost were more actively used than drugs with prescription incentives for doctors.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.118-142
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• 2003

This study is aimed at evaluating the financial structure of hospitals before and after the separation of prescription and drug dispensing policy started to be implemented in July 2000 and at making a suitable hospital managerial strategy through the verification of the factors which have effect on their profitability. This study investigated the hospitals which have passed the accredition review to be designated as a accredited training hospital each year for three years from 1999 to 2001. Those hospitals were selected from members of the Korea Hospital Association. 106 hospitals were targeted for analysis except for the hospitals whose financial statements and managerial performance were not reported faithfully. The financial indicators used in this study were stability indicators(liability to total assets, ratio of debt to fund balance, fixed ratio), liquidity indicators(current ratio, quick ratio), activity indicators(total assets turnover, fixed assets turnover), profitability indicators(net profit to total assets, net profit to net worth, operating margin), and operating expenses to patient revenues indicators(drug and supplies costs/payroll/overhead expenses). The result of this study are as follows: First, the analysis of the increase of loss-making hospitals before and after. The separation of prescription and drug dispensing policy shows that the number of loss-making hospitals increase after the separation(22.6% before the separation; 31.1% after the separation). However, there was no significant statistical difference. Second, the analysis of operating expenses to patient revenues indicators showed that the ratio of drug and supplies cost became lower in all hospitals but the ratio of payroll/overhead expenses became higher. Additionally, the factor which have the greatest effect on profitability was operating expenses to patient revenues indicators (drug and supplies costs/payroll/overhead expenses). Third, the analysis of managerial performance by four types of loss-loss, loss-profit, profit-loss and profit-profit compared the results before the separation with those after the separation revealed as follows : Reliance on liability to total assets became higher in the profit-loss type($56.2%{\rightarrow}66.4%$), lower in the loss-profit type($82.7%{\rightarrow}74.5%$). Total assets turnover became higher in the profit-profit type($1.3{\rightarrow}1.5$), but lower in the loss-profit type($0.8{\rightarrow}0.7$). Operating margin decreased to minus 5.9% from 4.3% in the profit-loss type, but increased to 7.2% from minus 7.8% in the loss-profit type. Forth, operating expenses to revenues indicators showed that the increase of payroll was the biggest in the profit-loss type($39.2%{\rightarrow}49.9%$) and that overhead cost decreased in the loss-profit type but that rather increased in other types.

• Food Industry And Nutrition
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.29-31
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• 2010

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.8-17
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• 2016

Sodium is a component of salt and naturally taken in the process of taking in table salt. For food processing, salt is very important. In general, salt adds flavor and taste including a salty taste and rheologically, it plays an important role in forming tissues. Also, it helps in improving preservability of food by controling growth of microorganisms. But excessive intake of salt has been blamed for outbreak of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, kidney stone, stomach cancer and others. For this reason, there are active efforts to reduce sodium of processed foods all around the world. In Korea, a guideline for sodium reduction in 27 items and 44 kinds of foods including confectionery was suggested as part of the 'processed food sodium reduction guideline development project', which has been conducted since 2012.

• Proceedings of the KSCN Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.58-66
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• 2007

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.2-5
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• 2007

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.127-138
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• 2005

This is to examine the OTC regulatory system of Korea in comparison with those of Japan, UK and US, and suggest the possible regulatory actions to harmonize it to international standards. Individual countries have their own regulatory requirements and processes far OTC application based on established drug monographs and safety profiles from clinical experiences. Categories of OTC drug monographs are being expanded with transparent establishment procedure according to detailed guidelines, and public opinions as well as professional experts for assessing appropriateness of wide usage without physician's prescription. In line with trend of self-medication worldwide, the number of OTC drugs is increasing and more efficient and professional drug review is underway in the separate OTC division in regulatory agency. For improving OTC regulatory system in Korea, settlement of optimal drug classification policy and management for encouraging OTC drug use, development of more detailed and specific guidelines for OTC drug application, expansion of OTC drug monographs, transparent process for OTC monographs establishment, and establishment of OTC division in health authority, are suggested.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.112-123
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• 2013

Background: Under the risk of financial sustainability of National Health Insurance, Korean government attempted a series of regulations over pharmaceutical prices. The first price-cut was implemented to the hyperlipidemial treatments, and the prices of statins were reduced on 15th, April in 2009. The purposes of this study are 1) to investigate the impact of this price-cut on pharmaceutical expenditure, and 2) to identify the factors associated with drug-switch among statins. Methods: Using the national patients sample data, this study conducted time series analysis on the expenditures, prices, and volumes of statin drugs. To understand the factors associated with drug-switch, the multinomial logit model was analyzed at the patients level. Results: The results of time series analysis demonstrated that the price-cut of hyperlipidemic medicines did not lead to the reduced expenditure, suggesting the increased volume was the major cause. The multinomial logit analysis identified the switch of healthcare provider as the significant factor that was highly associated with drug-switch, implying the physicians' preference was the major motivation of drug-switch. Conclusion: Without control of utilization, price regulation itself could not reduce pharmaceutical expenditure. This suggests that the pharmaceutical regulations should be implemented on the basis of understanding of provider behaviors. The findings of this study will form the first step for further empirical studies.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.427-433
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• 2004

With the Sunshine policy, exchange of materials and cultures inter Koreas has been broadened and expectancy of reunification is getting higher. Especially, medical supplies and medicines are one of the biggest parts in the exchange goods. So, preparing an unified official drug standard preparing new medical administration system is required. We compared the Korean pharmacopoeia with North Korean Pharmacopoeia. Two pharmacopoeias have been developed in different direction and have many differences in the nomenclature and format. In this study, we compared general notices, general rules for preparations and crude drugs, monographs, general tests, processes and apparatus.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.35-46
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• 2016

Objectives: The purposes of this study are to refer existing and past domestic and foreign policies and to establish a comprehensive plan to reduce sugar consumption and utilize it as fundamental data to establish and implement relevant policies. Methods: Korean government analyzed domestic and foreign policies and average sugar intake to develop draft of sugar intake reduction plan. Based on the plan, objectives, sections and agendas of the plan were set after taking into account of their feasibility. Results: The policy has three directions: to help sugar intake reduction in all population groups, to create an environment which helps people to make informed decision on lower sugar choices and to lay scientific and statistical foundation for sugar intake reduction plan. The goal is to restrict average sugar intake from processed food to less than 10% of total energy intake per day. Three core strategies are to help reduce intakes of sugar in all population groups, to create an environment which helps people to make informed decision on lower sugar choices and to lay a foundation for sugar intake reduction plan. Each strategies has 2~4 projects. Conclusions: This study is expected to serve as a catalyst for carrying out the first phase of sugar intake reduction plan to help reduce sugar consumption.