[The Editors' Verdict] 88% of the Public Want Non-Face-to-Face Medical Care

The medical information platform company ‘Hudadak’ is a medical information platform company under Ildong Pharmaceutical. Hudadak recently launched a non-face-to-face medical service called ‘Hudadak Care.’ The eye-catching phrase is ‘focused on follow-up patients.’ This means that patients who have previously visited medical institutions for treatment can receive remote follow-up consultations if needed or under certain circumstances. Medications are not delivered; in fact, it is a principle that patients must go to the pharmacy to pick them up in person. Hudadak has introduced △ Hudadak Health for medical consumers △ Hudadak Doctor and Hudadak Pharmacist for medical professionals (doctors and pharmacists). Hudadak Care is, paradoxically, the most realistic model of non-face-to-face medical service that is acceptable to both doctors and pharmacists.

In comparison, the remote medical platform Doctor Now provides non-face-to-face consultations by phone with a doctor after selecting symptoms. This is a first consultation, not a follow-up. After the consultation, the system connects the patient to the nearest pharmacy based on GPS location to have the medication dispensed. Patients can choose the pharmacy themselves, and if they want delivery, they can select options according to the cost. There are 2,500 affiliated medical institutions, and the number of available medical specialties reaches 20. This company has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the temporary allowance of non-face-to-face medical consultations and medication delivery due to COVID-19.

The difference in perception of non-face-to-face medical care between the public and doctors is revealed in the figures ‘87.9% and 72%.’ The Korea Health Industry Development Institute and Korea Research conducted an online survey from September 15 to 22 last year targeting 1,707 adults (patients) who experienced non-face-to-face medical care. Nine out of ten (87.9%) said they intend to use non-face-to-face medical care in the future. Satisfaction with non-face-to-face medical care was 62.3%, with women (65.3%) more satisfied than men (59.1%). Those aged 60 and over (62.0%) were similarly satisfied compared to those in their 20s (66.9%).

On the other hand, a survey conducted in July 2022 by four medical associations related to non-face-to-face medical care targeting 2,588 medical association members showed that 54.4% acknowledged the necessity of non-face-to-face medical care in unavoidable situations such as infectious diseases but considered it premature, while 18% said it should never be allowed due to concerns that the basic concept of medical care could be destroyed. Seven out of ten were essentially negative about non-face-to-face medical care. Compared to a similar survey a year earlier that showed 60% negative responses, perceptions worsened despite several months of non-face-to-face home treatment.

The medical community believes that non-face-to-face medical care and non-face-to-face medication (drug delivery) could cause primary medical institutions and pharmacies to collapse. Even if implemented, it should be within a very limited scope with sufficient time for pilot projects and other measures. They also express concerns that the emergence of platform companies like Doctor Now encourages medical shopping, drug misuse, and illegal business practices. Among the 38 member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), only five countries besides South Korea?Chile, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Switzerland, and Turkey?have not introduced non-face-to-face medical care. Japan has been promoting telemedicine step-by-step since the 1970s and officially allowed it in four stages starting in 2021. While thorough discussions must precede in South Korea, the debate on telemedicine has already lasted more than 20 years. Rather than whether to do it or not, more advanced discussions on how to implement it should take place.