Increase of Clinics Patient’s Burden from Next Year

From next year, the clinics patients will have to pay the maximum 1500 won for medical expense.

The Ministry of Health Welfare(MOHW) announced on October 15, “We decide to change 3,000 won of the existing patient charge when the medical cost is less than 1,5000 won, to 30% charge system when the medical cost is larger than 10,000 won. MOHW decided to revise an Enforcement Ordinance of National Health Insurance Law.

Because the average medical cost of the clinics outpatient is a level of 13,000∼15,000won, almost of patients must pay the medical costs of 3,900 ~ 4,500 won increased by 900~1,500 won over the present.

When the medical cost is less than 10,000 won, patients will pay 3,000 won as now regardless of the amount of medical costs.

The charge of slight illness patients of clinics increased to 3,000 won last year from 2,200 won right after enforcement of the separation of pharmacy and clinic, then will increase more next year. Accordingly, the patients will complain.

MOHW official said, “We will plan to use the financial retrenchment occurring on the decreasing allowance for chronic or heavy disease patients.” MOHW will adjust the medical charge through increasing the hospital charges of general hospital and small hospital and by decreasing the doctor’s bill.

Sang-Keun Song songmoon@donga.com