• The Southeast Asian review
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.173-218
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• 2018

This study focuses on the healthcare sector in Vietnam which is promoting universal health insurance for the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) under Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The purpose of this study is to examine the characteristics of the reform process of the health care system and the law on health insurance through the historical and cultural contexts and its implications from the perspective of development. Based on the three dimensions of UHC - extension of protection for population, provision of various medical services, and financial protection, the current status of the Vietnam healthcare sector is summarized respectively as follows. First, according to the revised Health Insurance law which came into effect in 2015, the mandatory health insurance premiums are calculated based on household units. Second, there is a medical network that can provide preventive and healthcare services centered on primary health care facilities, for example commune health stations (trạm y $t{\hat{e}}$ $X{\tilde{a}}$). Third, out-of-pocket expenditure is still a large proportion although public spending has increased and private spending has decreased since the enforcement of the health insurance law and various schemes. Vietnam is currently striving towards a universal health care system. The development of institutions and systems should be designed in a way that is appropriate for the members of the society rather than efficiency. This article findings shed light on the role of social values, family culture, and informal institutions.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.96-110
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• 2021

Korea is faced with the challenge of adapting to the world's fastest - growing low birthrate, aging society, and low growth with low interest rate era. With low fertility and aging population, the factors of financial income of health insurance are decreasing, and the increase of public interest in health, high cost medical technology and the development of medicine are leading to increase expenditure of health insurance. In this study, I will examine the strengthen protection of health insurance, financial stabilization, and fairness of medical care. First, the present status and limitations of health insurance were identified through domestic policy report, domestic and foreign literature, and precedent research. Second, the foreign health insurance policy measures to stabilize the finances were examined separately. Based on this study, in order to maintain sustainable health insurance through reinforcement and financial stabilization of health insurance, the current financial income structure of health insurance must be renovated. It will be necessary to expand government subsidies and discover new tax revenues. In addition, a policy to save finances by reorganizing the medical bill payment system and medical delivery system will also be needed.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.504-516
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• 2018

Many countries have tried to reform financing systems toward UHC and paid attention to the function of strategic purchasing. This study was performed to examine theoretical foundations and the function of strategic purchasing. And we examined the functions of strategic purchasing in Korea based on the framework proposed by Preker(2005). For this purpose, we reviewed literature related to purchasing. we defined the strategic purchasing as strategic activities to provide health care services people need within a given budget, which is carried out by certain organizations, purchasing organizations. These activities include selecting appropriate providers, designing and operating the payment system, setting the price, and determining the target populations and their needs etc. The relationships among government, purchasers and healthcare providers can be explained by the principal-agent theory. In addition to Preker's framework, we emphasized the importance of the infrastructure such as decision making support systems, information systems, health care resource management systems, or expenditure monitoring systems. The National Health Insurance Service and the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service play major roles in performing strategic purchasing.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.3-45
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• 2019

Health insurance is the main instrument to protect the people against sickness. To examine the task of in the future it would be necessary to extract and understand the components formed in its formation and development, benefit related and normative characteristics of the health insurance itself. The health insurance oriented itself to the universal coverage at a law level. Paradoxically this worked positively for the universal development of the health insurance. The task of the health insurance is on the one hand universal, positive and open. On the other hand it has to shape type of allowed method, art and content of the medical treatments into the regulation to ensure the equal benefit as well as the financial stability. That is, the health insurance should check the aberrant medical treatment, and at the same time should be compensated for the their necessity and effectiveness. However there are always some structural differences between both requirements. This article aims to restate and analyse the development of the health insurance, based on the characteristics formed hitherto show the way to reform the health insurance. The problem to enhance the coverage of health insurance, its institutional as well as financial crisis, its peculiar governance would be handled.

• Korean Journal of Labor Studies
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.109-142
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• 2018

This paper aims to analyze the Award wage system in Australia for construction workers. Considering low wages and precarious employment situation of construction workers in general, it is of advantage especially for them in Australia. Furthermore, it seems to be instructive for Korean construction workers, who stand in more precarious and unstable situation and furthermore are lack of fair wage and social safety. After strong and longstanding labour struggle in the late 19th century in Australia, it has been established a tripartite institution called as 'tribunal' between trade unions, employers, and the government. Under the highly institutionalized form of industrial relations, it functions as an arbitration and conciliation system between labour and management. The Award wage system stands in the middle point. This Award wage system including various welfare provisions is settled by the tribunal, today renamed as Fair Work Commission. In this wage system should be defined level of minimum wages according to the various skill levels, which are in turn connected with compulsory superannuation and Medicare as well as vocational education and training. Furthermore, it provides especially for the construction workers, who suffer from job instability, so-called 'portable benefits', which relate to long service leave and redundancy pay. Considering general conditions of precarious construction workers in Korea, In that respect, the Australian Award wage system would be very instructive for our social wage and safety system for construction workers.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.253-261
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• 2013

This study analyzed the preparation characteristics for old age of the baby boomers by the framework of the multi-pillar pension system. Analysis results are as follows. First, multi-pillar pension system's subscription rates of baby boomers was public pension 59%, private pension 11.5% and retirement pension 1.5%. The baby boomers isn't ready for old age life. Second, women and people with the low level of education are less prepared for old age. Third, people in a bad health state are less prepared for old age. Forth, low-income people are less prepared for old age. We must support baby boomers' preparations for old age by establishing income security system for old age. We must establish public pension support policy for the people of the low level of education and economic hierarchy, women, bad health status people, and must introduce universal old-age allowance policy for guaranteeing the minimum income of baby boomers.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.334-346
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• 2024

Background: Research on the link between subjective health and unmet healthcare needs is limited. This study examines whether experiences of subjective healthcare needs and unmet needs are related to subjective health in South Korea, where the rate of poor subjective health is notably high. Methods: This analysis utilized data from the Korea Health Panel (2014-2018), incorporating 68,930 observations from 16,535 adults aged 19 or older. The dependent variable, subjective health, was dichotomized into poor (bad or very bad) and non-poor (fair, good, or very good) categories. The primary variables of interest were the experiences of subjective healthcare needs and unmet needs, while control variables included 14 socio-demographic, health, and functional characteristics. The study employed population proportion analysis and multivariable two-level binary logistic regression analysis for each gender, accounting for the complex sampling design. Results: In 2018, the rate of reporting poor health was 8.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.0%-9.5%) for men and 14.7% (95% CI, 13.8%-15.6%) for women. For both genders, compared to individuals whose healthcare needs were met, those without healthcare needs were less likely to report poor subjective health (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.58; 95% CI, 0.39-0.86 for men; AOR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.37-0.93 for women). Conversely, individuals whose healthcare needs were not met were more likely to report poor subjective health (AOR, 2.31; 95% CI, 2.01-2.65 for men; AOR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.98-2.43 for women). A policy simulation indicated that reducing the experience of subjective healthcare needs would be approximately 5 times more effective in reducing poor subjective health than a policy focused on reducing the experience of unmet needs. Conclusion: South Korea must make significant efforts to reduce the deterioration of subjective health and promote appropriate healthcare utilization. To achieve this, a set of policies is recommended to address subjective healthcare needs. These policies should include (1) prompting individuals to proactively manage their own health, (2) providing primary healthcare similar to that in advanced countries, (3) ensuring the healthcare delivery system operates effectively, (4) decentralizing the healthcare management system, and (5) reducing the likelihood of people being misled into thinking they have a healthcare need.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.145-157
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• 2018

In this study, we analyzed the effect of the income level of cancer, stroke, and myocardial infarction on mortality by using National Health Insurance Service(NHIS) Cohort 2.0 DB. Patients who newly developed the disease in 2007 were observed till 2015. The analysis used the Cox probability proportional risk model and the competing risk model. The income level used information at the time of the onset of the disease in 2007, categorized into low / mid / high. The results showed that there were differences in the risks of death and secondary disease in patients with cancer, stroke, or myocardial infarction according to the income level. In addition to the need for a social safety net to lower the incidence of early deaths in low-income families, it seems necessary to continue to strengthen universal protection for serious diseases similar to the current policy.

• Korean Journal of Family Social Work
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• no.61
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• pp.59-91
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• 2018

Using a Consensus Qualitative Research approach, this study aimed to identify the ageism and explore age-integration as a solution of age discrimination that occurs during the delivery of medical services by nine healthcare professionals who have experience in treating elderly patients. There were two-sided confession has shown by health care professionals about the Ageism. They reported that they don't discriminate by age. However, They also appealed an inconvenience due to the elderly. There were real Ageism in the Healthcare Professional site as a way of Unsuitable care, elderly alienation and dependence on caregivers, polarization of medical service and double discrimination against poor elderly. They found it difficult to offer age integrated health care as a means to mitigate or solve. However they have sought to break barriers to communication, provided a comfortable environment not only for senior citizens but also for all others, and have diversified institutional and service standards. To ensure the healthy life and proper medical service of the rapidly increasing elderly patients, we proposed to do critical review of the factors in the Korean medical system that accelerate the Ageism, reorganization of the health care system for the poor elderly, including the curriculum associated with age-integrating within the health care professional education system, raising the Geriatric Medical Service and the relating professionals and improvements in perception of the health care domains for the elderly and older adults.