
- The changing process and politics of health policy in Korea
- Kwon, Soonman; Reich, Michael R.
- Harvard University
Title |
The changing process and politics of health policy in Korea
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Material Type | Reports |
Author(English) |
Kwon, Soonman; Reich, Michael R. |
Publisher |
[Cambridge, U.S.] : Harvard University |
Date | 2005 |
Pages | 24 |
Subject Country | South Korea(Asia and Pacific) |
Language | English |
File Type | Link |
Subject | Social Development < Health |
Holding | Harvard University |
License | ![]() |
Abstract
Korea recently introduced three major health care reforms: in financing (1999), pharmaceuticals (2000), and provider payment (2001). In these three reforms, new government policies merged more than 350 health insurance societies into a single payer, separated drug prescribing by physicians from dispensing by pharmacists, and attempted to introduce a new prospective payment system. This essay compares the three reforms in Korea and draws important lessons about the country’s changing process and politics of health care policy. The change of government, the president’s keen interest in health policy, and democratization in the public policy process toward a more pluralist context opened a policy window for reform. Civic groups played an active role in the policy process by shaping the proposals for reform—a major change from the previous policy process that was dominated by government bureaucrats. (The rest omitted)