7 Additional Rare Disease Diagnostic Centers Designated Including Jeonbuk National University Hospital

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Hospitals where patients diagnosed with rare diseases or those seeking to reduce their medical expenses through special calculation exceptions can register have been designated in Jeonnam, Jeonbuk, and Chungbuk.

The National Health Insurance Service announced on the 7th that it has additionally designated seven hospitals nationwide, including Jeonbuk National University Hospital, as rare disease diagnostic medical institutions. There is a rare disease system for special calculation exceptions that reduces the medical expense burden for patients diagnosed with rare diseases designated by the government and medical community. To be diagnosed and recognized as eligible for the exception, patients must go through designated institutions.

The newly designated hospitals are Jeonbuk National University Hospital (Jeonbuk), Hwasun Chonnam National University Hospital (Jeonnam), Chungbuk National University Hospital (Chungbuk), Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital (Daegu), Bundang Seoul National University Hospital (Gyeonggi), Yonsei University Gangnam Severance Hospital (Seoul), and Korea University Ansan Hospital (Gyeonggi). Among tertiary general hospitals operating rare disease or genetic clinics, those meeting the personnel requirements can be designated. Previously, there were 21 such institutions nationwide, including Catholic University Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, but with this addition, the number has increased to 28.

The NHIS explained, "The number of diseases that can only be registered as special calculation exception targets through diagnostic medical institutions has been continuously increasing, so we aimed to secure diagnostic promptness and alleviate the inconvenience of patients in regions without diagnostic medical institutions." Until now, there were no rare disease diagnostic medical institutions in the Honam region or Chungbuk.

Last October, after deliberation and resolution by the Rare Disease Management Committee, 91 rare diseases were newly added as special calculation exception targets. The total number of rare diseases eligible for special calculation exceptions has reached 1,014, with about 270,000 beneficiaries. When receiving special calculation exception benefits, the patient's co-payment rate for inpatient and outpatient care is reduced to 10%, less than half of the previous rates (inpatient 20%, outpatient 30-60%). An NHIS official said, "We will continue to expand the application of special calculation exceptions for newly diagnosed rare diseases due to technological advances and increase the number of diagnostic medical institutions to ensure early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, thereby improving medical accessibility for rare disease patients."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.