Korea has made a rapid economic development since the last three decades. This has helped Korea narrow the gap in health service differences in resource availability and in quality of care. However, urban and rural differentials are still remarkable. This study has maintained that health status of rural residents is inferior to that of urban dwellers. Therefore, this study was carried out to develop policy measures for improving health services in rural areas.
In order to achieve the objective of this study, the authors collaborated closely and made field visits, interviews and conducted an extensive literature review regarding rural health services. The following policy options are recommended as a summary
First, the quality of rural health personnel is a single most important factor influencing the level of rural health services. An innovative training program for public health doctors is a necessity. As for an innovation, it is suggested to link the current rural service of public health doctors to the internship and/or residency training program such as specialty borard program of family medicine.
Second, dissatisfaction regarding employment of public health doctors is problematic. More rational employment and deployment programs are needed to meet their personal desire. One way to do this is to make it wide open and competitive.
Third, this study shows how to increase physician productivity in the rural public health sector. Incentive system needs to be elaborated for the career development of rural health workers. University linked job opportunity as clinical professor is an example.
Fourth, without strengthening the function of health centers and sub centers, the future of rural health services is doomed to failure. Strengthening primary health care is one way to enrich the program of public health facilities and reactivating the operation of health center/hospital is another. A close linkage of public facilities with private hospitals is a minimum requirement for the operation of health delivery system within a health district
Fifth, some measures are urgently required to enhance hospital services in medically underserved areas. Financial subsidy. tax exemption, long-term public loans and higher priority of health manpower deployment are some of them.
Sixth, new health programs should be initiated to meet changing needs of peoples in rural areas. Home health care program, hospice program nursing home, residential program for the elderly are recommended.
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