[2021 National Audit] Rep. Kim Won-i: "Measures Needed to Address Rising Blood Cancer Cases and Medical Expense Burden"

Blood Cancer Increased by 19.7% Compared to 2016, Total Medical Expenses Approximately 20.4 Million KRW Per Person

Kim Won-i, a member of the Health and Welfare Committee, conducting the 2021 National Assembly audit. Photo by Office of Kim Won-i

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seunghyun Jeong] As the issue of whether a leukemia new drug, known to cost nearly 500 million won, will be covered by health insurance is becoming a topic of debate, it has been revealed that the number of blood cancer patients in South Korea has increased by 19.7% over the past five years.

According to the '2021 Health Living Statistical Information' submitted by the National Health Insurance Service to Kim Won-i, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (Health and Welfare Committee, Mokpo City), the number of blood cancer patients in South Korea increased annually from 18,972 in 2016 to 22,710 last year. This represents a 19.7% increase over five years.

According to the data, as of last year, there were a total of 44 blood cancer patients per 100,000 people in South Korea.

Analyzing by gender, the number of male blood cancer patients was 1.3 times higher than that of females. Males outnumbered females across all age groups, with the highest proportion of male patients found in the elderly population. According to last year's statistics on patients per 100,000 people, males in their 70s were 1.6 times more than females, and males aged 80 and above were nearly twice as many as females.

Analyzing by age group, last year the number of blood cancer patients per 100,000 people was highest among those in their 70s at 90, followed by 77 in those aged 80 and above, and 66 in their 60s. Among younger people under 40, teenagers had the highest number at 45.

Medical expenses have also increased significantly. The total medical expenses, including claims to the National Health Insurance Service and out-of-pocket payments for blood cancer treatment, rose from 326.6 billion won in 2016 to 463.3 billion won last year, an increase of 41.8%.

Medical expenses per patient have also been on the rise. From 17.21 million won in 2016, the cost steadily increased to 20.4 million won per patient in 2020.

Blood cancer is subject to special calculation for severe diseases, with patient co-payments around 5%, but many patients use expensive non-reimbursed anticancer drugs not covered by health insurance. Experts explain that the actual costs borne by leukemia patients can range from several million to tens of millions of won per month.

Assemblyman Kim Won-i stated, “The number of patients suffering from severe rare diseases such as blood cancer is increasing every year,” and added, “Given the significant difficulties patients face due to enormous treatment costs, it is necessary to promptly establish measures to reduce medical expenses by gathering diverse opinions through a prior approval system for high-priced drugs.”