|
KMID : 0387320230330030243
|
|
Korean Journal of Health Policy and Administration
2023 Volume.33 No. 3 p.243 ~ p.252
|
|
|
Korea’s Health Expenditures as a Share of Gross Domestic Product Over-Passing the OECD Average
|
|
Jeong Hyoung-Sun
Shin Jeong-Woo
Kim Seung-Hee
Kim Myung-Hwa
Kim Hee-Nyun
Cheon Mi-Kyung
Park Ji-Hye
Kim Sang-Hyun
Park Tae-Hwan
|
|
|
Abstract
|
|
|
|
This paper aims to introduce Korea’s total current health expenditure (CHE) and National Health Accounts of the year 2021 and their2022 preliminary figures constructed on the basis of the System of Health Accounts 2011. As CHE includes expenditures forprevention, tracking, and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and compensation for losses to medical institutionsfrom 2020, the details are also introduced. Korea’s total CHE in 2021 is 193.3 trillion won, which is 9.3% of gross domestic product(GDP). The preliminary figure in 2022, 209.0 trillion won, exceeded the 200 trillion won line for the first time, and its “ratio to GDP”of 9.7% is expected to exceed the average of Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development member countries for thefirst time. Korea’s health expenditures, which were well controlled until the end of the 20th century, have increased at an alarmingrate since the beginning of the 21st century, threatening the sustainability of national health insurance. The increase in healthexpenditure after 2020 is partly due to a temporary increase in response to COVID-19. However, when considering the structure ofKorea’s health insurance price hike, where the ratchet effect of increased medical expenses works particularly strongly, it is unlikelythat the accelerating growth trend that has lasted for more than 20 years will stop easily. More aggressive policies to control medicalexpenses are required in the national health insurance which not only constitutes the main financing sources of the Korean healthsystem but also has the most powerful policy means in effect for changes in the health care provision.
|
|
|
KEYWORD
|
|
|
Current health expenditure, System of Health Accounts, SHA 2011, Share of gross domestic product, Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
|
|
|
FullTexts / Linksout information
|
|
|
|
|
Listed journal information
|
|
|
|
|