Policy Measures for Improving Function and Structure of Health Centers

보건소의 기능 및 조직의 재편성 방안

Since the establishment of health centers in the 1960s, the centers have been played an important role in providing basic health care for the people. Although the health centers made a great effect to prevent diseases and promote the health status of the people for the last three decades, the function of health centers should be strengthened to meet the health care need of individual, family and community. Over the last ten years, there have been great changes and developments in health related environments, such as population size and age, rapid urbanization, up-grading of the educational level, increase of income, health care demand for promotive health care measures and practical measures for chronic diseases and also practicing healthy life. According to the great changes in health related environments, the health centers should be reformed. The following policy options are recommended as a summary; First, the function of health centers should be converted from providing basic health services into promotive and preventive health care services, to meet changing needs of people. Second, the health center personnel should be reinforced for their competency to provide a qualitative services to people and also the operation of health center should be reactivated. Third, a close linkage of health centers with the private sector is an essential requirement for the operation of the health care delivery system within a health district in order to improve the health status of people. Fourth, type of manpower mix, scope of organization and health care program should be varied, based on the health care needs of people, geographical characteristics and size of population etc. Fifth, a comprehensive health care delivery system should be developed, for maintaining healthy life style of people and also the health and welfare services should be integrated in order n ensure an effective service.