[Kyoje-e Gat-in Kboheom-Sang] Daeman·Ilbon Data Gyoryu Hwalbal… Myeoneun Sikbyeol Jeongdo Jeong-ui Ttutyeot

Taiwan Allows Temporary Use of Medical Data in Silicon Valley Sandbox
Japan Calculates Health Age Insurance Premiums... Benefits for Government, Insurers, and Consumers
Finland Digitizes Anonymous Data... Available for Use by Any Private Company

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] Overseas, procedures have been established to allow private insurance companies to utilize health and medical (pseudonymized and anonymized) data, accelerating innovative services. Taiwan and Japan are representative examples.

Taiwan introduced a public insurance-based health insurance system similar to that of Korea in 1995. Since then, to promote the development of big data and artificial intelligence (AI) industries, the government has been pushing the 'Asia Silicon Valley Sandbox' at the national level, allowing temporary application (for one year) and use of medical data by industries including insurance companies. Additionally, in March, the Director of Taiwan's National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) announced that while health insurance information has so far been available only to academic and research organizations, discussions are underway with insurance companies regarding the use of public medical data for insurance product development.

In Japan, health information is provided to insurance companies through the Japan Medical Data Center (JMDC). JMDC collects de-identified health checkup data and statements from the Japan Health Insurance Association, hospitals, and others, analyzes and processes them, and provides data analysis services to insurance companies and others. Insurance companies can use the health information received from JMDC to calculate premiums based on health age and sell products. The health age-based premium calculation method, which more accurately reflects consumer risk, benefits the government, insurance companies, and consumers alike. The government can enjoy improved health insurance finances through national health promotion. Consumers benefit from health improvement and reduced medical expenses, while insurance companies gain advantages in preventing insurance incidents through health management.

The reason such services are possible overseas is that legal grounds already exist allowing the use of medical information without the consent of the data subjects, based on public trust. Governments promote the private use of medical information based on legal grounds.

In Korea, there is ambiguity in interpreting the concept of 'information that cannot identify a specific individual,' necessitating clear standards for pseudonymization. In contrast, the United States legally defines information that can be collected and used without the data subject's consent as 'information with identifiers removed,' specifically listing 18 types of identifiers including names and addresses smaller than a state. This reduces the risk of re-identification of specific individuals and maintains high public trust.

Japan introduced the concept of anonymized processed medical information through the Next-Generation Medical Infrastructure Act enacted in May 2017, utilizing it for research and development and new industries. The Japanese government certifies companies with advanced information security and anonymization technologies as 'Anonymized Medical Information Production Operators.' These operators collect anonymized medical information such as medical records. Medical institutions like hospitals can provide de-identified medical information to certified operators after prior notification to data subjects, unless the individual expresses refusal. According to the Next-Generation Medical Infrastructure Act, medical information production operators can reuse the data by providing it to researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and others. Furthermore, the Japanese government actively supports the use of de-identified medical information, considering incentives for medical institutions that provide medical information to these operators.

Finland's government digitizes and centrally manages all citizens' medical information in a system known as the 'Kanta System.' Through this system, anonymized information can be used by anyone, including private companies, for research and development. Notably, this system has established world-class security, maintaining strict security and transparency, thereby earning public trust.