Which Metropolitan Government Excelled Most in the 'Medical Aid Program'? Busan Named Top and Excellent Institution for Financial Management

Ministry of Health and Welfare Announces 2025 Medical Aid Program Evaluation
Top Marks for Program Implementation and Efforts to Ensure Fiscal Soundness

Busan City has been recognized as the best among all metropolitan and special cities nationwide in operating the Medical Aid Program.

Busan City (Mayor Park Hyungjoon) announced on January 21 that it ranked first among 17 cities and provinces nationwide in the '2025 Medical Aid Program Evaluation' organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, earning the distinction of being selected as the top institution.

In addition, Busan City was named an excellent institution in the '2024 Medical Aid Financial Management Sector.' The award ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. on January 21 in the main auditorium of the Government Complex Sejong, where achievements will be shared through presentations of outstanding local government cases.

The Medical Aid Program Evaluation is conducted annually, comprehensively assessing overall program performance and the efforts of local governments, including medical aid case management, home-based medical aid, and the collection rate of unjust gains. In this year’s evaluation, Busan City ranked first among 17 cities and provinces, being selected as the top institution. Among local governments nationwide, Seo-gu, Busanjin-gu, and Haeundae-gu were included as excellent institutions, making Busan the metropolitan government with the most award-winning organizations.

The Medical Aid Financial Management Evaluation is a system that assesses achievements in reducing expenditures and improving spending efficiency in response to increases in medical aid expenses. Busan City has been awarded for three consecutive years: top institution in 2022 and excellent institution in 2023 and 2024. The city has established a fiscal reduction plan and operated a dedicated task force to achieve its targets every year, resulting in a fiscal saving of 19 billion won in 2024 through case management of frequent outpatient users.

The city has strengthened medical aid case management to reduce excessive and duplicate treatments and to encourage appropriate use of medical services by beneficiaries. It has also expanded the scope of the home-based medical aid program, which supports community living for long-term inpatients after discharge.

Busan operates a city-specific program called 'Yakjisul,' which provides pharmacist consultations for frequent medication users, and has broadened tailored support for beneficiaries by linking with public sector case management programs. The city is also strengthening health management by encouraging and continuously monitoring health checkup participation among medical aid recipients.

Busan has 154,492 medical aid recipients, and 57 medical aid managers are responsible for case management work. This year’s budget for the Medical Aid Program is 1.3414 trillion won.

Jung Taegi, Director of Social Welfare for Busan City, stated, "The efforts made in the field to improve the quality of life for medical aid recipients and to efficiently manage limited financial resources have led to these achievements," adding, "We will continue to pursue policies that strengthen both the right to health for medical aid recipients and fiscal soundness."