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Doctors remain at odds over 'Moon Jae-in care'

By Lee Kyung-min Doctors and medical professionals with varying interests remain at odds over “Moon Jae-in care,” expanded coverage of the state-run health insurance program, amid the government's drive to control fees for medical services. The initiative _ a major campaign pledge offered by President Moon Jae-in _ seeks to guarantee better access to affordable healthcare especially to the “socially vulnerable” including the underprivileged, children and the elderly.Doctors practicing western medicine, represented by the Korea Medical Association (KMA) with some 140,000 members, have declared an “all-out war” against the measure, a move criticized by much smaller groups of doctors and medical practitioners, each represented by the Association of Korean Medicine (AKOM) with some 25,000 members and the Korea Dental Association (KDA) with some 29,500 members. All doctors and Korean Medicine practitioners say they understand the government seeks to increase public welfare. But the KMA claims the drive would inevitably result in massive lay-offs _ mostl

Apr 3, 2018

'Cannabis needed for medical treatment'

Farmers in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, harvest cannabis whose stalks are used to make fabric. The law in Korea bans cannabis products in general but allows seeds, matured stalks and stems. /Courtesy of Andong city governmentLegislative change necessary but moves slowBy Kim Se-jeong Kim is a medical doctor and a mother of a seven-year-old boy who suffers Lennos-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), or childhood-onset epilepsy. She learned about the effectiveness of cannabis oil in treating epilepsy symptoms and ordered it from overseas last year. The oil arrived in Korea but never got to her address. Instead, the prosecution which was tipped off by the customs authority visited her and questioned her over attempting to smuggle drugs into Korea. In a similar case, a mother in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, ordered cannabis oil last year from overseas for her son who suffers from a brain tumor and was investigated for the same violation. The judge suspended the sentence citing her actions didn't quite mount to a violation of the law. Prosecutors, however, appealed the judge's decision and th

Apr 2, 2018

PHOTOS Parents shave hair for Autism Awareness Day

/ Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukBy Park Si-soo Hundreds of parents of autistic children had their hair shaved in a tearful street rally near the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Monday, calling on the government to expand welfare for them.A total of 209 parents ― mothers and fathers ― took part in the “shaving rally,” marking the 11th World Autism Awareness Day on April 2.They called on the government to expand state-funded welfare and employment programs for autism sufferers.The parents recently filed a petition on Cheong Wa Dae website to muster support. The petition has garnered 12,507 names (as of 5 p.m. Monday) since March 27. If it draws 200,000 by the April 26 deadline, the presidential office will take an official position on the issue.Online petition: https://www1.president.go.kr/petitions/177684?navigation=petitions/ Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk/ Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Apr 2, 2018

Parents shave hair for Autism Awareness Day [PHOTOS]

Doctors, gov't tussle over healthcare policy

A doctor holds a sign at a rally in Seoul, March 18, protesting health insurance coverage proposed by President Moon Jae-in. The sign reads: 'A populist policy costs public health!' / YonhapBy Jung Da-minThe conflict between the government and the medical community is heating up over the former's expanded health insurance coverage project called “Moon Jae-in care.” The negotiation between the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korean Medical Association (KMA), doctors' representative group, recently broke down.“Moon Jae-in care” aims to provide financial support for all treatments and medications including charges for MRIs, ultrasound, hospital room and nursing care. But the plan excludes support for cosmetic surgery and treatment.The state-led insurance plan will also cover costs of abdomen ultrasonography in April. This was part of President Moon's pledges he made last year during his election campaign to reduce increasing medical cost burden especially among the elderly. Doctors say they basically agree with the government's intention to help

Apr 1, 2018

Doctors, gov't tussle over healthcare policy

Rise of subway free riders amid aging society

A man sits alone at Tapgol Park. / Korea Times fileBy Kwak Yeon-sooAround 9:30 a.m., an 81-year-old man surnamed Kim steps into Tapgol Park in downtown Seoul and sits underneath the old pavilion. A 45-minute subway ride from his house in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul, it has become a part of his daily routine after his wife passed away four years ago. Tapgol Park, where the March 1st Korean Independence Movement began, has turned into a haven where the elderly come to spend most of their free time.“It doesn't cost me a penny to get here. All I have is time, so why not waste it?” Kim said.Another 72-year-old woman surnamed Kim, who has spent most of her life washing dishes at restaurants, said she backs the free subway service. “Since I've worked outdoors for so long, I cannot stay at home like a housewife. Giving seniors free access to the subways allows people like me to get around the city freely.” There are hundreds of senior citizens like these two Kims in Seoul. Due to an increase in the country's elderly population, the number of free subway riders is rising

Mar 30, 2018

'Sexual abuse victims need courage'

By Lee Kyung-min Center for Media Responsibility and Human Rights Director Yoon Yeo-jean / Courtesy of Yoon Yeo-jeanKorean society should encourage more victims of sexual abuse to speak up about their innermost pain without fear of being judged or their motives questioned, a human rights advocate said Friday. Center for Media Responsibility and Human Rights Director Yoon Yeo-jean said many victims are reluctant to publicly share their stories in Korea, a country long dominated by Confucianism and patriarchy, both of which have taught women the virtue of staying silent and obedient. “The #MeToo movement opened the floodgates and is helping many women to raise a fundamental question about a structural problem caused by the imbalance of power,” she said. Their voices deserve to be heard, Yoon added, as coming forward takes a lot of courage especially in Korea where the first question a victim faces is “Let's say you go public with this. Do you really think you will be able to handle what is to come?” This is a question, she added, premised on an absurd suppositio

Mar 30, 2018

Korea to require seatbelts for all passengers

Buckle up, everyone. / YonhapBy Jung Min-hoAll car passengers will have to wear seatbelts starting later this year.The National Police Agency said early this week that a new rule requiring every passenger to wear a seatbelt will come into force on Sept. 28, after a six-month grace period.The driver will be fined 30,000 won ($28), if any passenger violates the rule. The fine will be 60,000 won, if the passenger is 13 years old or younger.Given that bus and taxi drivers do not have the legal means to force passengers to buckle up, the government is considering applying different rules for such drivers.The new law will also require bicycle riders to be sober and to wear a safety helmet.

Mar 30, 2018

Korea to require seatbelts for all passengers

Foot-and-mouth disease confirmed at pig farm

Quarantine officials have slaughtered more than 900 pigs near Seoul, the agriculture ministry said Tuesday, as South Korea confirmed an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) with a rare A-type virus at a pig farm.The farm in Gimpo, 30 kilometers northwest from the capital city, on Monday reported a suspected case, and the sick pig tested positive for FMD, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said.Following the initial test, quarantine officials have limited movement of animals and livestock breeders in the nearby region for 48 hours and culled over 900 pigs at the affected farm as part of preventive measures, the ministry said.An in-depth analysis showed that the pig had an A-type FMD virus, the ministry said. It is the first time that the nation has confirmed a swine FMD case with the rare virus type.It is the first time that the highly infectious animal disease has been detected at a pig farm since the last case in South Chungcheong Province two years ago, with several cases taking place at cow farms in the central region in February 2017.A total of 87 A-type FMD

Mar 27, 2018

Foot-and-mouth disease confirmed at pig farm

Single moms urge gov't for support

A single mother holds her baby in silhouette in this 2012 file photo. / Korea Times fileBy Kwak Yeon-sooRaising a child alone is viewed negatively in Korean society. Despite this social perception, a growing number of single mothers are taking full care of their children.There are calls for the government to enforce greater responsibility on children's biological fathers, as equally as single mothers. There were 23,936 single mothers in 2016, according to Statistics Korea's latest data.Of them, 264 were in their teens. Given many single mothers are hesitant to come out and speak up, the data is likely incomplete.To curb social stigma against single moms and ease their economic troubles, an online petition on Cheong Wa Dae's website on Feb. 23 called for enacting measures to request child support from biological fathers. “Single mothers tend to struggle economically because they are mostly taking care of their children alone,” said a petitioner, who wrote on the website using a Naver ID. “Unmarried biological fathers' inadequate financial support and indifference to

Mar 27, 2018

Korea's struggles with mental health insurance coverage: lessons learned from the US

By Chad EbesutaniKorea is up against a heated debate over the exclusion of other mental health professionals in the provision of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).CBT is one of the most effective psychotherapy approaches for treating mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Given that Korea has among the highest rates of suicide and mental health problems, proper regulation of CBT for treating these problems is a critical issue.A law was recently passed that, starting June 2018, will exclude psychologists entirely from conducting CBT in hospitals ― CBT will only be covered by the National Health Insurance Service, provided that psychiatrists or neurologists, who are members of professional groups, receive a minimum of training in CBT as part of their formal education.Psychologists are fighting back, arguing that they should also have the right to provide CBT to patients and be covered by national health insurance. Up until the passing of this new mental health bill, clinical psychologists have been members of a professional group receiving CBT training as part of their

Mar 25, 2018

Health

Health

Doctors remain at odds over 'Moon Jae-in care'

'Cannabis needed for medical treatment'

PHOTOS Parents shave hair for Autism Awareness Day

Doctors, gov't tussle over healthcare policy

Rise of subway free riders amid aging society

'Sexual abuse victims need courage'

Korea to require seatbelts for all passengers

Foot-and-mouth disease confirmed at pig farm

Single moms urge gov't for support

Korea's struggles with mental health insurance coverage: lessons learned from the US

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