Comparison of Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea’s health policies during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Health Care
Policy
Table of Contents

What is Health Care Policy?
Case – Japan
Case – South Korea
Case – Taiwan
Compare & Contrast

Examples of Health Care Policy
National Health Service
Single-Payer
Mandatory National Health Insurance

Japan
Health Care
Policy
Background
1992- Health Insurance Act
1961- Universal Health Care
→”Comprehensive health insurance that covers all
citizens”
(by Prime Minister Ichiro Hatoyama)
3 types of health insurance
・Mandatory Health Insurance
● National Health Insurance (NHI)
● Employee Health Insurance
● Health Insurance for people aged 75 and over
→Covering Physician services hospitalization, prescription
drugs, and dental care
・Free Access System
Copayment
Policies During Covid Pandemic
● Three “Cs”
○ Closed space
○ Crowded place
○ Close-contact settings
● Restrictions
● Masks
● Free vaccination
● Pre-departure test results or valid vaccination
certificate for entering Japan
Health care
policy
SOUTH KOREA
KIM JIHO
1K150004

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) coordinates and oversees health
and welfare related affairs and policies. Its mission is to establish an inclusive
welfare state that ensures happy and healthy lives for all citizens. The ministry
consists of four offices and 20 bureaus with approximately 3,000 employees.
*Health Promotion
*Healthcare Industry
*Traditional Korean Medicine
*Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response
Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Korea Disease Control and Prevention centre
Keep Korea secure from disease threats by strengthening public health emergency response
capacity
*Operate an exhaustive response system for new infectious diseases
Control the spread of AIDS and improve the life quality of AIDS patients
Strengthen the project for preventing and managing sexually transmitted diseases
Increase the government’s medical subsidies for patients with rare and intractable diseases
Raise public awareness for organ donation and encourage people to get involved
Strengthen the operation of the national infectious disease surveillance system
Strengthen diagnostic capacity for and laboratory surveillance of infectious diseases
Korean Health Law and Types
INFECTIOUS DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION ACT
*Mandatory vaccines for infectious diseases and various diseases
*Force quarantine of people infected with a disease
*Infectious Disease Control and Epidemiological Investigation
*Compulsory suspension of operation of the company for the prevention or disinfection of infectious
diseases
*Patients or citizens affected by the disease can be asked for compensation
National health Insurance
It is a type of social insurance that is usually enforced by law to raise funds so that people
can receive medical services in the event of an insurance accident. It is one of the five major
social insurance policies in Korea along with industrial accident insurance, national pension
insurance, employment insurance, and long-term care insurance for the elderly.
In order to prevent households from being in trouble due to accidental diseases, accidents, and
injuries in their daily lives, people usually pay insurance premiums and fund them to share
risks and provide medical services in the event of an insurance accident. The purpose of
national health insurance is to improve national health and social security by providing
insurance benefits for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, childbirth, death, and
health promotion for diseases or injuries of the people.
NHI covers between 50-80% of medical costs depending on the individual’s needs and the treatment
they receive. This includes the costs for medical checkups, general procedures, accident
coverage, and prescription medication. The NHI also covers expenses should an employee be hurt on
the job or in the case of unemployment as well
KOREA’S health policy regarding COVID-19
Free vaccination for COVID-19
Free PCR inspection
COVID-19 test subsidy (Rapid antigen test)
Financial Support for people in self-quarantine
Compensation for people who suffer due to side-effect of COVID-19 vaccination
Free support for COVID-19 treatment
Supporting telemedicine and drug delivery for COVID-19 self-quarantine people
Provide self-quarantine places
Meal support during self-quarantine
Financial Support for severely ill patients with COVID-19 through the National Health Insurance
Taiwan’s Healthcare
Policy
Taiwan’s Health Care
1995 – National Health Insurance System
“promises equal access to healthcare for all citizens”
● Accessibility
● Variety
● Low Cost
● Single Payer System/Model

Policies During Covid Pandemic
● Heavy focus on “vulnerables”
● Reactive to “small” trends
● Tracking & data collection
● Strict control on masks
● Masks & people
● Free vaccines

Policies During Covid Pandemic
● Heavy focus on “vulnerables”
● Reactive to “small” trends
● Tracking & data collection
● Strict control on masks
● Masks & people
● Free vaccines
Comparisons between countries’
health care policy during the COVID-19
● The three countries’ Universal Healthcare Coverage (UHC), which covers a certain
amount of medical expenses of every individual, has played a critical role in protecting
citizens’ health during the catastrophe.
● Their citizens can easily access to health care services -> successfully mitigated the
impacts of the pandemic.

Comparison of Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea’s health policies during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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