The finance and manpower of oral health care system in Korea and comparison with six selected countries

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the financial and manpower indicators of the oral health care system in Korea and to compare them with six selected countries -the US, Japan, Germany, France, the UK, and Sweden. Methods: It used the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) statistics website and official data sources of the Korean government. Results: In Korea, total oral health care expenditure (TOHCE) per capita was US $ 208, the TOHCE as a share of GDP was 0.5%, the TOHCE as a percentage of total health care spending (THCE) was 6.2%, and the percentage of out-of-pocket payments of TOHCE was 58.8% in 2019. The number of practising dentists per 1,000 population was 0.50 in 2018, and the average annual growth rate since 2000 was 3.3%. Dental specialists as a percentage of practising dentists increased from 0.4% in 2009 to 21.8% in 2020, and the allied dental personnel-to-dentist ratio in dental hospitals and clinics rose from 1.95 in 2013 to 2.34 in 2019. In addition, in 2019, the number of dentists and dental hygienists working in health care institutions or health centers differed distinctly by area; public health dentists accounted for 88% of dentists working at health centers and multiple general dentists were secured in five metropolitans/provinces. Conclusions: In the 21st century, the financial and manpower indicators of oral health care in Korea rose significantly, comparable to the six selected countries, although quality limitations remain. In the future, it is expected that these policies in Korea will be enhanced based on the indicators identified in this study.

Comparison of the oral health status and costs of the provision of dental care in ten high-income countries

“…Nevertheless, it should be mentioned that the expenditure rate in recent years increased from 0.38% (2015) to 0.49% of GDP (2019), owing to the expanded benefit catalogue and a constantly growing number of dentists from 40.232 (2013) to 57.949 (2019). However, the favourable dental workforce situation, a dentist to dental hygienist ratio of 1 to 1.5 (2019) 89 has probably helped to keep costs down. Compared with a country with a similar population density, Japan, with its dentist ratio of 0.83 per 1000 inhabitants, Korea still has potential for increasing its dentist numbers.…”

“…In 2019 the dentist ratio per 1000 inhabitants was 0.52%. 89 Nevertheless, Jevdjevic et al predict a below average per capita growth in oral health spending for Korea compared to other industrialised countries until 2040. 52 The good oral health status of Japanese citizens corresponds to improvements in periodontal status, brought about by enhanced oral hygiene levels and dental health behaviour.…”

A study on the regional aging trend among Korean dentists

“…우리나라 국민구강건강실태조사 결과에 의하면 각 연령대에서 치 아우식, 치주염 등을 포함한 구강건강상태가 지속적으로 개선되는 경 향을 보이고 있다 1) . 하지만, 아직은 서구선진국의 수준에는 못 미치고 있고 2) , 한국인의 30%가량이 우식, 심한 치주염(6 mm 이상의 깊은 치 주 낭 형성), 무치악 등 주요 구강 질환(oral disease)으로 인한 어려움 을 겪고 있다고 보고되고 있다 3) . 또한, 2010-2012년에 실시된 제5기 국민건강영양조사 자료를 분석한 결과 우리나라 국민의 20%가 병의 원(치과 제외)에 가고 싶을 때 가지 못했다고 답한 것에 반해, 최근 1년 동안 치과진료가 필요하다고 생각하였으나 진료를 받지 못한 적이 있 었다고 답한 비중은 40%로 나타나, 의료이용에 비해 치과진료 이용의 접근이 낮은 것이 확인되었다 4) .…”

“…치과의사 인력수급에 관해서는 한국은 인구 1천명당 활동 치과의 사 수가 2000년 이후 그 성장률이 높아서 10년 이내에 OECD 국가의 평균 수준에 도달할 것으로 예측되고, 일부에서는 이미 치과의사 인력 이 초과 공급되었다고 보고한다 3,9) 1). 3).…”