Health policy for the people

ABSTRACT

After the 19th South Korean presidential election was scheduled to be held on May 9, 2017, a number of presidential candidates have rushed to announce their health policies. Regardless of the presidential candidate, almost all health policies have tended to focus on fragmentary pledges. Thus, the Research Institute for Healthcare Policy (RIHP), which is part of the Korean Medical Association (KMA), has selected 5 key policy issues among the 25 health policies that were developed through the planning group for health policy development the development and passage of the Special Act on Supporting Primary Care, the establishment of a health care delivery system, the independence of the Ministry of Healthcare from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the implementation of the right to choose prescription drugs, and progress toward addressing the problems faced by the National Health Insurance program. In addition, the KMA has launched a presidential engagement campaign in order to reinforce its political status, as well as to encourage KMA members to participate in politics. I hope that this paper provides guidance in making correct decisions from a public health perspective, and am confident that this election will help medicine to develop in the right direction.