의료혁신위, ‘지역·일차의료 혁신’ 추진…“건강 필요도 따라 재정 배분해야”

The Healthcare Innovation Committee (Innovation Committee) has released a 'Healthcare Innovation Guidelines' focused on strengthening local primary healthcare for residents to receive disease prevention and health management close to their homes. On the 27th, the Innovation Committee held its 9th meeting in Seoul's Jung-gu to discuss the 'Guidelines for Regional Health and Primary Healthcare Innovation for Addressing Aging Society.'

This guidelines aims to transition healthcare systems to a community-centered model, enabling residents to receive disease prevention and health management services near where they live as the demand for healthcare and caregiving in aging societies increases. Established in December last year, the Innovation Committee is an advisory body directly attached to the Minister of Health and Welfare, tasked with discussing healthcare reform measures proposed by the Lee Jae-myung administration.

Last June, the committee released the 'Guidelines for Managing High-Risk Pregnancies and Newborn Care Improvement through the Introduction of High-Risk Pregnant Mothers Registration System' and the 'Guidelines for Realizing a Care-Free Society for Nurses and Midwives through Expansion of Nursing and Medical Integration Services.'

The Innovation Committee proposed that local health and medical institutions should restructure their functions and structures to provide residents with preventive, health-enhancing, and caregiving services close to their homes. The community health centers will focus on strategic planning and management of public health emergencies, while primary healthcare institutions will be responsible for managing chronic diseases, prevention, and home visits.

To achieve this, the Innovation Committee recommends transitioning the funding system from individual business-oriented structures to a collaborative framework where local residents share responsibility for their health. The committee suggested utilizing the provincial dissolution emergency fund, regional essential medical special account, and the national health promotion fund as resources for enhancing regional healthcare and primary healthcare infrastructure and functions.

Innovation Committee Chairman Do Hyun stated, "In the aging society, we must transition to a system where residents receive health check-ups and necessary medical and caregiving services close to where they live." He expressed hope that the guidelines would serve as a starting point for local health and primary healthcare institutions to jointly take responsibility for the health of residents.

The Innovation Committee also plans to hold a second public consultation meeting on November 7-8, focusing on the 'Integrated Decision-Making System for End-of-Life Care,' aiming to gather diverse opinions on the public's perception of death and care at the end of life.