• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.90-99
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• 2011

Objectives: Comparison of the status of herbal medicine management carried out by traditional Korean medicine hospitals and clinics, and changes in the prices of the herbal medicines offered by them. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted for 126 traditional Korean medicine hospitals and 4,200 traditional Korean medicine clinics. Questionnaire sheets were dispatched to them by mail in 2008. Rate of response: 57 hospitals (45.2%) and 465 clinics (11.0%) Results: 1. Concerning the herbal medicines kept by them, the hospitals and the clinics kept 295 and 147 kinds of medicine, respectively, on average. As for their monthly expenditure on the purchase of herbal medicines, the hospitals spent an average of KRW 28.38 million while the clinics spent an average of KRW 1.64 million. 2. The average monthly expenditure of the clinics on the purchase of herbal medicines decreased by 32% from 2006, which can be interpreted as a reduction of their business. 3. The prices of herbal medicines for disease treatment ranged from KRW 140,000~190,000 per jae(dosage form) in the hospitals compared to KRW 140,000~168,000 in the clinics. 4. Compared to 1994, the prices of herbal medicines used for disease treatment have risen, whereas the prices of herbal medicines used as tonics have decreased. Conclusions: There are no conspicuous differences between the hospitals and the clinics in terms of the prices charged for herbal medicines, regardless of whether they are used to treat diseases or prescribed as tonics.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.43-51
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• 2019

Objectives : This study aimed to analyze price variance by year, region and company of raw herbal medicines to draw payment system for herbal medicine insurances in the National Health Insurance. Methods : To analyse price variance, we used 2015-2017 data of 'Quality test results of imported herbal medicines' provided by Korea Pharmaceutical Traders Association and 'Price data of 56 raw herbal medicines' that was surveyed by the Association of Korean Medicine. We analysed gap of highest price and lowest price those were compared with average price and coefficient of variation(CV) of prices by year, region and company of raw herbal medicines. Results : In analysing 3 years data, the highest price was 23.2% higher, and the lowest price was 19.1% lower than the average price. As of 2018, the average price of domestic produced herbal medicines was 1,8 times higher than that of imported herbal medicines. By companies, the highest price was 117.5% higher, and the lowest price was 57.3% lower than the average price. Conclusions : The price of herbal medicines varied by production year, region and company. This results suggest that comprehensive payment model needs to be considered in modeling the health insurance coverage for herbal medicine decoctions.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.1-16
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• 2017

Objective : The study was for researching the activation methods about Korean overall medical crops business from 2010 to 2016. In addition, it was to be given to examining complement points and improving methods to the changeable domestic market of medical crops caused by a considerable export-import amount of them. Methods : By examining and analyzing data for the trend of medical crops production and their export-import trend from 2010 to 2015, I found it valuable to use it as the basic resources for researching the urgent problem of medical crops' business and its improvement. Results : 1. As surveying the trend of the domestic medical crops over the recent six years, I found that the export amount of them has drastically decreased, while the import amount has increased. And so, the prices of the domestic medical crops and their production are unstable. 2. By developing standardized medical crops which a trading counterpart country could prefer, we have to promote the export competitiveness. 3. We should reinforce an origin mark and geographical mark practice for domestic herbal materials and expand GMP. 4. We should prepare a standardization of herbal medicines by setting up an independent governmental department. Conclusion : 1. The government should present an appropriate supply-demand amount of the medical crops depending on the domestic needs and the export-import transactions. 2. There should be an institutional supportive system which is able to guarantee stable incomes of farmers through contract cultivation. 3. We should develop high value standardized medical crops.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.47-58
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of the present study is to grasp and provide basic data necessary for the establishment of korean healthcare policies in future. Methods : A questionnaire developed by the author was distributed to 299 students of D University located in Busan and collected thereafter from March 5 to June 1, 2012. Statistical processing of the data obtained was conducted using the SPSS WIN IBM 20.0 program to indicate outcomes in frequencies and percentages. Results : The results of the survey are as follows. 1. The number of students who were mainly using korean hospitals/clinics was 6(2.0%). The most important factor in selecting korean medical institutions was 'medical technology'. 2. The treatment that was received the most frequently and the most reliable at korean medical institutions was acupuncture. The most frequent reason for taking korean medicine was 'prescriptions tailored to constitutions' and the most frequent reason for avoiding korean medicine was 'high prices'. 3. There was few number of students who knew that car insurance coverage for traffic accidents include treatment at korean clinics. and who knew about 'permitted standard herbal medicine', 'the use of disposable needles', 'wild ginseng pharmacopuncture'. 4. Among items necessary for the development of korean medicine, 'treatment technology with fast and high effects' was the most frequently selected. Conclusions : University students' preference for and perception of korean medicine were shown to be very low. It is considered that public relations should be reinforced to implant correct perception of korean medicine in university students who will be major users of hospitals and clinics.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.29-36
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• 2021

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to fix the synonyms, origin, formation mechanism, description, and efficacy of Hwangnapchim in Elucidation of Materia Medica. Methods : Through searching histories and herbal classics, We categorized the contents, and compared with Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum. Results : The synonyms of Hwangnapchim were classified by 3 categories : Napchimhyang-type, Ganamhyang-type and Ginamhyang-type. In early period, it was called by Napchimhyang-type, named after its description that was similar to beeswax. Afterward it was called by Ganamhyang-type or Ginamhyang-type, because of the name "Kynam" that was called by in its producing region. And there were records of producing region of Vietnam, Cambodia, and being from abroad, while those of Vietnam were most frequent. According to custom duties of Ming Dynasty, Hwangnapchim was 17.5 times as expensive as Agarwood. Hwangnapchim shared main producing region, original plant, and process of formation with Agarwood. Therefore, its original plant was Aquilaria crassna, but added honey during formation process. Hwangnapchim was classified 5 types according to its description, the highest quality was Yu-gyeol, resembled beeswax, and easily recovered if get a scar. Hwangnapchim had a fragrance at room temperature, a spicy flavor, and the efficacy of blocking urine and feces. Conclusions : These results showed that Vietnam was major producing area of Hwangnapchim, and that it shared same origin with Agarwood, but it had different description, efficacy, and higher prices because of being added honey during formation.