Korea's medical AI advances, but clinical adoption remains slow

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology shows promise for revolutionizing healthcare, but its implementation in clinical practice in South Korea is progressing at a sluggish pace, according to experts. This assessment was shared during a symposium held by Eulji University Medical Center to celebrate its 70th anniversary, with the theme "Future Healthcare with AI" in Seoul.

AI technology has already begun to reshape the Korean healthcare landscape. It has significantly enhanced public access to medical information and has been instrumental in keeping physicians at primary and secondary healthcare facilities abreast of the latest medical research and innovations. Despite these promising developments, the adoption of AI in clinical settings has been sluggish.

Although AI-based medical devices have secured regulatory approval in South Korea, the majority remain un-covered by the national health insurance system. According to data from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, as of the first half of this year, 549 AI medical devices had received regulatory approval. However, only 49 of these devices are covered by national health insurance.

This scenario is reflective of a broader global challenge. The fact that a device has been granted regulatory approval does not automatically guarantee its inclusion in national health insurance, highlighting a potential roadblock in the widespread clinical adoption of AI technology in healthcare.