Ministry of Health and Welfare Begins Discussions on Reforming the Elderly Medical, Nursing, and Care System

Ministry of Health and Welfare Holds 1st Meeting of 'Medical, Nursing, and Care Policy Planning Team' at National Health Insurance Service Seoul and Gangwon Regional Headquarters on the 7th

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The government has embarked on establishing a new ‘medical, nursing, and care’ system suitable for a super-aged society. On the 7th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare held the first meeting of the ‘Medical, Nursing, and Care Policy Planning Group’ and began specifying key policy tasks by sector.

On the 7th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that it held the first meeting of the ‘Medical, Nursing, and Care Policy Planning Group’ at the National Health Insurance Service Seoul and Gangwon Regional Headquarters. The meeting was attended by Lee Gi-il, the 1st Vice Minister of Health and Welfare and co-chair of the planning group, Professor Seok Jae-eun of Hallym University, as well as academic and field expert members.

The ‘Medical, Nursing, and Care Policy Planning Group,’ co-chaired by Vice Minister Lee Gi-il and Professor Seok Jae-eun of Hallym University, was formed to prepare a new medical, nursing, and care linkage system reform plan suitable for the aging era in anticipation of the elderly population reaching ten million (2024). Under the planning group, three advisory committees by subcommittee (Medical Linkage Advisory Committee, Nursing and Care Advisory Committee, Welfare Linkage Advisory Committee) operate to discover and specify key policy tasks by sector.

Based on the discussions of the policy planning group, the Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to prepare a reform plan in the second half of this year, reflect it in medical, nursing, and care policies and systems, and, if necessary, promote the enactment and revision of related laws and regulations. Lee Gi-il, 1st Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, stated, “To prepare for a super-aged society, we must establish a meticulous medical and care service supply system so that the elderly can live healthy and independent lives without being hospitalized or admitted to facilities.” He added, “The newly launched ‘Medical, Nursing, and Care Policy Planning Group’ is expected to play a central role in gathering opinions from experts in various fields.”