Unlike the Canadian or British systems, the Korean healthcare system is based on mandates that require employers to give insurance to their employees, and also require self-employed citizens to purchase insurance themselves. The South Korean National Health Insurance Program is a program that thus requires universal coverage for all citizens.
In comparison to the US, Korea’s private profit-making hospitals are the majority of all hospitals, and pharmacists do not need doctors’ prescriptions to provide drugs to patients. South Korean healthcare offers occidental (Western) medicine or traditional oriental treatments that are called hanyak (한약). The largest and most popular hospitals include the Seoul National University Hospital, the Samsung Medical Center, the Asan Medical Center, and the Yonsei Severance Hospital. Based on my personal experience, I found the Korean healthcare system to be more accessible, time-efficient, and cost-efficient compared to that in the US. Even if I had a minor health issue, I would be able to consult a healthcare provider that day and have many different specialized health clinics in my area that I could visit. The specialization of the clinics also helps with consulting practitioners who are knowledgeable in particular conditions and diseases.
Comments