Next Year's Ministry of Health and Welfare Budget 89.6 Trillion Won... Increased Funding for Infectious Disease Response and Child Abuse Prevention

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The Ministry of Health and Welfare's budget for next year has been finalized at 89.5765 trillion won, an 8.5% increase (49.7 billion won) compared to this year.

Increases were made for expanding treatment equipment to strengthen response capabilities to health crises such as infectious diseases, expanding medical institution extensions and facility reinforcements, expanding shelters for abused children, and increasing personnel at suicide prevention centers.

On the 2nd, the National Assembly finalized the total expenditure scale of the 2021 budget and fund operation plan under the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s jurisdiction through a plenary session vote. The 344.6 billion won transferred to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency was not included.

Among the government's total expenditure budget of 558 trillion won for next year, the Ministry of Health and Welfare accounts for 16%. Of this, 7.57778 trillion won and 1.37988 trillion won are allocated to social welfare and health sectors, respectively.

During the National Assembly budget review process, budgets for strengthening public healthcare, protecting abused children, and suicide prevention were increased. First, 40 billion won more than the government proposal of 36.3 billion won was confirmed, totaling 40.3 billion won for supporting personnel costs for specialized nursing staff responding to infectious diseases and expanding infectious disease treatment equipment at the National Medical Center.

To strengthen the public nature of regional base hospitals, the budget for modernization of facilities and equipment (extensions, facility reinforcements) at local medical centers, specialization of functions such as infectious disease response, and reinforcement of Red Cross hospital functions was set at 143.3 billion won, an increase of 9.6 billion won from the government proposal of 133.7 billion won.

For managing high-risk suicide groups, the number of dedicated suicide prevention personnel will increase from 314 to 467, and counseling call center (1393) staff will increase from 26 to 31, with a budget of 36.8 billion won, 1.9 billion won more than the government proposal of 34.9 billion won.

The unit price for infant care fees for 0-year-old classes will increase from 999 won to 1,012 won, and care fees for children with disabilities will be raised by 5%, with 3.3953 trillion won allocated, 27.5 billion won more than the government proposal. Additionally, 1.614 trillion won was allocated for support payments to teachers and staff at small-scale daycare centers, 8.5 billion won more than the government proposal.

Regarding the Together Care project, the unit costs for personnel and operating expenses for school-local government collaboration models (750 rooms) were increased, with 41.2 billion won allocated, 1.7 billion won more than the government proposal of 39.5 billion won. The number of shelters for abused children for protection and psychological treatment was expanded from 76 to 91 locations, with the budget increased from 7.8 billion won to 8.6 billion won.

For disability activity support, 1.507 trillion won was allocated, an increase of 7.9 billion won, to compensate for benefit reductions due to the transition to long-term care for those aged 65 and older. Additionally, 55.8 billion won was allocated for the creation of natural burial grounds and construction of cremation and enshrinement facilities, 9.7 billion won more than before.

Major projects finalized at the 2021 government proposal amounts include 9.5 trillion won to expand government support such as strengthening health insurance coverage, and 1.7107 trillion won for increasing the national treasury support rate for elderly long-term care insurance from 19% this year to 20% next year.

Livelihood benefits will be provided with the abolition of the support obligation criteria for the elderly and single-parent households, and a 2.68% increase in median income for a four-person household, raising the amount from 4,749,174 won to 4,876,290 won, with 4.6079 trillion won allocated.

Medical benefits increased per capita benefit payments for recipients and improved systems related to psychiatric hospitalization. Basic pensions were expanded from the lowest 40% income bracket to 70%, with 14.9634 trillion won allocated, an increase of 1.7869 trillion won from this year.

Disability pensions were raised to a basic benefit amount of 300,000 won for those exceeding the near-poverty line up to the lowest 70% income bracket, with 829.1 billion won allocated, 42.9 billion won more than this year.

Public interest activity-type and social service-type elderly jobs will expand from 740,000 this year to 800,000, and the target for personalized elderly care services based on individual care needs will increase from 450,000 to 500,000.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare stated, "We plan to thoroughly prepare budget allocation and execution plans within this year so that the budget approved by the National Assembly can be promptly executed immediately after the start of the next fiscal year."

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