Conflict Intensifies Between Medical and Korean Medicine Communities Over Herbal Medicine Health Insurance Support

Medical Association and Broader Medical Community Form Emergency Committee... "Scientific Verification Needed"
Oriental Medicine Community "Striving for Modernization Through Pilot Project of Herbal Medicine Insurance Coverage"

The Korean Medical Association and six other organizations launched an emergency response committee on the 17th, stating their opposition to the pilot project for coverage of herbal medicine treatments.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The medical and pharmaceutical communities clashed with the Korean Medicine community over the pilot project for the inclusion of herbal medicine prescriptions in health insurance coverage. The Korea Medical Association and other pan-medical organizations have formed an emergency response committee to actively publicize the problems with the herbal medicine coverage. The Korean Medicine community emphasized that since a significant portion of the public desires coverage for herbal medicine prescriptions, this pilot project should serve as an opportunity for the entire medical community to jointly promote Korean medicine.

On the 17th, seven organizations including the Korea Medical Association, Korea Hospital Association, Korea Pharmaceutical Association, Korean Academy of Medical Sciences, Korean Pharmaceutical Society, National Academy of Medicine of Korea, and the Association of Korean Medical Schools launched the pan-medical emergency response committee. At a press conference following its launch, the committee stated, "The inclusion of herbal medicine prescriptions in coverage without scientific verification and ignoring the principles of coverage poses a serious threat to public health," and emphasized that "it will undermine the sustainability of health insurance finances."

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the agenda to conduct the pilot project for herbal medicine prescription coverage will be submitted to the Health Insurance Policy Deliberation Committee (HIPDC) meeting scheduled for later this month. Coverage means that health insurance will partially support the cost, reducing the financial burden on patients receiving prescriptions. This initiative was previously attempted in 2012 but was not realized. It was reintroduced last year, and opposition was raised several times within the HIPDC subcommittees. Nevertheless, as the government decided to proceed as originally planned, the opposing organizations have united to raise their voices more strongly.

The emergency response committee plans to publicize the issue of herbal medicine coverage and convey their stance to the government, the National Assembly, subscriber organizations participating in the HIPDC, and public interest committee members. Kim Dae-ha, the Korea Medical Association’s director of public relations, said, "The unified voice from the medical, hospital, medical science, and pharmaceutical sectors shows there is no disagreement among health professions on this issue," adding, "While the primary goal is to stop the pilot project, we also agree on the need for scientific verification of all Korean medical practices including herbal medicine, and are considering establishing a permanent committee for long-term operation."

Members of the Korean Medical Association are shouting slogans at the "Resolution Rally to Strongly Oppose the Inclusion of Herbal Medicine in Health Insurance Coverage and to Urge the Separation of Health Insurance," held on the 28th of last month at Hanbit Square, Cheonggyecheon, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

The Korean Medicine community declared its commitment to scientifically utilize Korean medicine through this pilot project. Regarding the emergency response committee launched by the medical community, they expressed that it was "absurd and regrettable." The Association of Korean Medicine Doctors stated in a press release that "herbal medicine coverage is a crucial medical policy that can no longer be delayed to expand patients’ choice of treatment and reduce economic burdens," and emphasized, "We will accelerate the modernization and globalization of Korean medicine."

According to the Korean Medicine Doctors Association, surveys conducted by the government showed that herbal medicine prescriptions were ranked first among Korean medicine treatments that the public most wants to be covered by health insurance. Since the government is trying to implement policies reflecting public demand, the Korean Medicine community argues that the entire medical community should work together to foster and develop Korean medicine rather than oppose it.

The association stated, "The Western medicine community seems to mistakenly believe that everything will be resolved by threatening a general strike, which itself is a superstitious behavior and attitude that they should reflect upon," and added, "We will strive to improve various unreasonable and unequal laws and systems, including issues related to Korean doctors’ use of medical devices."

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