Discussions and implications of the recent enactment & revision of the healthcare law

• Published in: Journal of Korean medical science Vol. 27 Suppl; no. Suppl; pp. S82 - S87
• Main Authors: Kwon, Oh-Tak, Seon, Jun Gu, Kim, So Yoon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences 01.05.2012; 대한의학회
• Subjects: Accreditation - legislation & jurisprudence; Delivery of Health Care - legislation & jurisprudence; Health Care Reform; Humans; Original; Quality of Health Care; Telemedicine; 의학일반; Healthcare; Rebate; Telemedicine; Medical Dispute; Medical Institution Accreditation; Public Healthcare
• DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2012.27.S.S82
• ISSN: 1011-8934

Recently, there have been many changes in the area of healthcare. There is no certainty how these changes will affect the healthcare system and public health. However, to at least have these changes positively implemented, it is clear that evaluation through continuous monitoring is necessary. The enforcement of the Medical Institution Accreditation and Medical Dispute Mediation Law as well as legal revisions regarding the public healthcare system are changes to improve the quality of healthcare, while at the same time, provide penalties for infractions of the new law such as medicine/medical device rebates; moreover, legal revisions regarding telemedicine are anticipated to impartially vitalize technical development as well as the pharmaceutical industry. For these changes to have a positive effect on the medical field and people's lives, an accurate comprehension of the system and understanding of the details is necessary to be able to respond sensitively to any changes in the future. Therefore, this paper examined the background information on the current discussion on the changes in the healthcare system, examined the detailed content of the system, and reviewed the areas that were in dispute as well as the main issues to contemplate the expected effects of the changes and future tasks that may be generated as a result. These considerations will act as foundation for an in depth understanding of recent trends in the healthcare system.