he number of physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and other health
personnel and the number of hospitals and clinics have increased dramatically
since the Korean War
In 1974 the population per physician was 2,207; by 1983 this number had
declined to 1,509. During the same period, the number of general hospitals grew
from 36 to 156 and the number of hospital beds tripled from 19,062 to 59,099
Rural areas had limited medical facilities, because in the past there was little
incentive for physicians to work in areas outside the cities,
Korea over the centuries has used acupuncture and herbal treatments to cure illnesses. Ginseng was a popular herb sold in stores and was used through the 1980s. The South Korean government committed itself to making medical security (medical insurance and medical aid) available to virtually the entire population by 1991.
1) the administrative structure of the system, (2) the choice about who would be
covered, and (3) the policy for mobilizing financial resources for the system
intervened in Korean financial affairs, causing a dramatic increase in the NHI’s
deficit, which then grew each year until 2002.
When the government announced that NHI would separate
Some
physicians and hospitals will not accept overseas health insurance and therefore
may require you to pay up front; however, if you or your employer pay taxes then
you are entitled to health insurance through your employer
no vaccinations are required to enter South Korea, but you should be sure your
rabies and tetanus/diptheria shots are up-to-date, and vaccination for hepatitis
if you will be living in or spending significant time traveling in rural areas,
a vaccination for Japanese encephalitis is recommended
Korean-made
drugs are generally safe, sanitary, and inexpensive—even without insurance. They
are available in pharmacies like those in the United States or Canada.
problems as minor as a cold or rash you may be given a shot or series of shots.
Some treatments require that you go to a clinic for a shot and medicine every
day for a week or more. Should you need to visit a doctor, bring a Korean friend
with you to ask questions.
English is
spoken at some hospitals in South Korea, especially in international clinics and
hospitals in larger cities