Hospice & Palliative Care Policy in Korea

Abstract

Globally, efforts are being made to develop and strengthen a palliative care policy to support a comprehensive healthcare system. Korea has implemented a hospice and palliative care (HPC) policy as part of a cancer policy under the 10 year plan to conquer cancer and a comprehensive measure for national cancer management. A legal ground for the HPC policy was laid by the Cancer Control Act passed in 2003. Currently in the process is legislation of a law on the decision for life-sustaining treatment for HPC and terminally-ill patients. The relevant law has expanded the policy-affected disease group from terminal cancer to cancer, human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic liver disease/liver cirrhosis. Since 2015, the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme reimburses for HPC with a combination of the daily fixed sum and the fee for service systems. By the provision type, the HPC is classified into hospitalization, consultation, and home-based treatment. Also in place is the system that designates, evaluates and supports facilities specializing in HPC, and such facilities are funded by the NHI fund and government subsidy. Also needed along with the legal system are consensus reached by people affected by the policy and more realistic fee levels for HPC. The public and private domains should also cooperate to set HPC standards, train professional caregivers, control quality and establish an evaluation system. A stable funding system should be prepared by utilizing the long-term care insurance fund and hospice care fund.

Pediatric Deaths Attributed to Complex Chronic Conditions over 10 Years in Korea: Evidence for the Need to Provide Pediatric Palliative Care

“…Based on government reports and media, there was no medical institution or agency that provides PPC services. 14 Among 43 tertiary teaching hospitals in Korea, none provided services meeting the minimum standard for special PPC. Two hospitals, both located in Seoul, had in-hospital services called PPC, but they neither had trained healthcare professionals working in a multidisciplinary team, nor provided 24/7 service.…”

Perceptions of Pediatric Palliative Care among Physicians Who Care for Pediatric Patients in South Korea

“…Since the enactment of relevant laws and regulations in 2017, the subjects of palliative care have been expanded to include patients with AIDS, liver cirrhosis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases; moreover, patients with refractory cancer and expenditures have increased. 3 However, there is a widespread confusion about the difference between the concepts of palliative care and end-oflife care. Moreover, policy for pediatric patients is not prioritized.…”

Design of a Hospice Referral System for Terminally Ill Cancer Patients Using a Standards-Based Health Information Exchange System

“…There had been no medical reimbursement policy to cover hospice services by the National Medical Insurance until 2015 in Korea [ 12 ]. However, since July 15, 2015, the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) of Korea started a new health insurance policy on hospice service for cancer patients to encourage hospice care [ 13 ]. According to the report of the Health and Social Welfare Review of Korea, the number of inpatients in hospice care facilities is gradually increasing.…”