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SEOUL -- South Korean doctors fearing reduced income threatened to stage a general strike in protest at enhanced health care benefits pushed by President Moon Jae-in as part of his drive to expand social welfare.
The so-called "Mon Jae-In Care calls for a gradual expansion of state health Insurance coverage, starting with free ultrasounds of the upper abdomen on April 1. Insurance coverage will be expanded to cover nearly all but non-essential treatments with patients in the low-income bracket benefiting from reduced medical costs.
Doctors opposed "Moon Jae-in Care" as a unilateral populist policy that could lead to low-quality services for patients. An association of doctors warned of "collective" action or a walkout in late April unless the government works out a new medial policy through consultations with doctors.
"If our demands are not accepted, there will be no dialogue between the government and the medical community," Korean Medical Association (KMA) head Choi Dae-jib told reporters. "We are ready to halt medical treatment."
Government data showed that of 69.4 trillion won (65.1 billion US dollars) in total medical expenses in 2015, 13.5 trillion won was not covered by a state insurance program.
In 2017, South Korea's total health care spending stood at 69.33 trillion won, according to the National Health Insurance Service which covers medical costs spent in hospitals and drug stores. The service collected 50.14 trillion won through a state health insurance system.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
