Medical Service Act (Uiryo Beop)
The Medical Service Act (Uiryo Beop) governs the provision of medical services in South Korea. Enacted in 1973, the Act establishes the framework for hospitals, clinics, medical practitioners, and medical institutions. The Act regulates the establishment and management of medical institutions, the duties of physicians, patient rights, and the quality of medical care.
Legal area: Law governing the provision of medical services and healthcare institutions.
Year enacted: 1973
Full text: https://elaw.klri.re.kr/eng_service/law_view.do?hseq=south-korea-medical-service-act
Key Provisions
- Chapter I: General provisions (medical care, medical institutions)
- Chapter II: Medical institutions (establishment, management)
- Chapter III: Medical practitioners (duties, qualifications)
- Chapter IV: Patient rights and duties
- Chapter V: Medical care quality (standards, assessment)
- Chapter VI: Penalties and enforcement
Significance
The Medical Service Act provides the regulatory framework for South Korea’s healthcare system. The Act has been amended to address issues including physician working conditions, medical malpractice, and healthcare quality improvement. South Korea’s healthcare system provides high-quality care at relatively low cost. The Act has been updated to address telemedicine and digital health services. South Korea faces challenges including an ageing population, physician shortages, and regional disparities in healthcare access.