Seocho-gu Supports Difference in Health Certificate Issuance Fees... Ordinance Enacted

Due to COVID-19 response, most public health centers nationwide have suspended health certificate issuance... Private medical institutions charge 5 to 8 times higher fees than health centers, prompting district-level support... First among local governments nationwide to establish ordinance basis for supporting health certificate fee differences

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] As the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has caused difficulties in the local economy, Seocho-gu (Mayor Joe Eun-hee) has stepped up to support the issuance fee for health certificates (Health Checkup Results, hereinafter referred to as health certificates), which have been suspended at public health centers due to COVID-19.

Most public health centers nationwide have suspended the issuance of health certificates since February to March this year to prevent cross-infection from visits to health centers and to focus on blocking the spread of COVID-19.

Workers in industries requiring health certificates must obtain them from private medical institutions, but the fees at private medical institutions (15,000 to 25,000 KRW) are 5 to 8 times higher than the public health center fee (3,000 KRW), increasing the burden on users and raising complaints demanding compensation for the fee difference between public health centers and private medical institutions.

The issuance fee for health certificates is a non-reimbursable expense autonomously set by private medical institutions, so the district office cannot arbitrarily adjust the fee. Moreover, there are only about 30 private medical institutions issuing certificates in Seoul, including the Korea Health Management Association.

To resolve this issue, Seocho-gu Office, in agreement with the Seocho-gu Council, established the first-ever legal basis nationwide in the "Seoul Special City Seocho-gu Ordinance on the Prevention and Management of Infectious Diseases" to support the fee difference between public health centers and private medical institutions when the issuance of health certificates is suspended due to infectious disease response.

After the promulgation process, the support for the fee difference is scheduled to begin on November 4.

Mayor Joe Eun-hee of Seocho-gu stated, "The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has caused economic difficulties for all citizens. I hope this measure will provide some comfort to about 35,000 business owners and workers annually and contribute to the local economy."