Current Status and Reform Tasks in Life Cycle Management of Korean Health Technology for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Era / 보건행정학회지

Entering the fourth industrial revolution era, health technology is rapidly developing and the people's needs for medical services are gradually increasing. Establishing a life cycle management of health technology has emerged as a new policy agenda to cope with these changes. However, the management of health technology have been conducted without continuity and with several problems pointed out. Therefore, we suggest the reform agendas by stages to establish system for a life cycle management of health technology in the fourth industrial revolution era as follows. In the stage of development, it is important not only to provide research funding, but also consulting by professional about whole cycle of health technologies. In the phase of market entry, there are needs for enhance the system that would expand the early adoption for innovative technology and increase its effectiveness. After the spread of health technology to clinical settings, a reassessment and post management system should be established that have an institutional framework with strong price adjustment and exit mechanism. Furthermore, we hope that discussions will be brisk in macro perspective on the balancing of development in healthcare industry, health of people and national health insurance finance.

The Importance of Mandatory COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing Prior to Release from Quarantine

A 14-day quarantine is implemented in many countries in response to the coronavirus disease pandemic. Korea implemented a mandatory quarantine for those who had close contact with infected patients and those returning from abroad. The present study explored the implications of mandatory coronavirus disease 2019 testing before releasing individuals from the 14-day quarantine in Incheon, Korea. From February 11 to July 5, 2020, 19,296 people were self-quarantined, and 56 (0.3%) of them were confirmed cases of COVID-19. Twenty (35.7%) were identified through the reporting of symptoms during quarantine, and 32 (57.1%) were identified using mandatory pre-release RT-PCR tests. Among the 32, 14 (25%) individuals reported mild symptoms and 18 (32.1%) were asymptomatic. It is suggested that mandatory diagnostic testing prior to release and the symptom-based surveillance after the 14-day quarantine may help control delayed or asymptomatic COVID-19 cases.

Erratum: Correction of Funding Source: The Burden of Cancer in Korea during 2012: Finding from a Prevalence-Based Approach

We found a mistake in our recently published article.

The Burden of Cancer in Korea during 2012: Findings from a Prevalence-Based Approach

Cancer causes a significant deterioration in health and premature death and is a national socioeconomic burden. This study aimed to measure the burden of cancer using the disability-adjusted life year (DALY) metric based on the newly adopted methodology from the Global Burden of Disease Study in 2010. This study was conducted based on data from the Korean National Cancer Registry. The DALYs were calculated using a prevalence-based method instead of the incidence-based method used by previous studies. The total burden of cancer in 2012 was 3,470.79 DALYs per 100,000 persons. Lung cancer was the most prevalent cancer burden, followed by liver, stomach, colorectal, and breast cancer. The DALYs for lung, liver, stomach, colon and rectum, and pancreatic cancer were high in men, whereas the DALYs for breast, lung, stomach, colorectal, and liver cancer were high in women. Health loss from leukemia and cancer of the brain and nervous system was prevalent for those younger than age 20; from stomach, breast, and liver for those aged 30–50; and from lung, colon and rectum, and pancreas for a large proportion of individuals over the age of 60. The most important differences were that the DALYs were calculated by prevalence and that other components of the DALYs were measured by a population-based perspective. Thus, prevalence-based DALYs could provide more suitable data for decision making in the healthcare field.

Health Performance and Challenges in Korea: a Review of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013

The global burden of disease study (GBD) provides valuable information for evaluating population health in terms of disease burden. This study collected and reviewed GBD data in Korea for the year 1990 and 2013. The burdens of cancer, cardiovascular disease, communicable disease, and injuries have decreased remarkably, thereby greatly diminishing the overall disease burden on Korea. Meanwhile, the burdens due to non-fatal chronic diseases such as neuropsychiatric and musculoskeletal disease became major burden contributors. Responding to this circumstance presents a complex challenge to the Korean health system and Korean health policy.