World hospitals and health services : the official journal of the International Hospital Federation
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The national health insurance system was introduced in Korea in 1977 and achieved universal coverage in July 1989. This article briefly describes the general features of the insurance scheme: coverage, management, benefit package, financing provision of medical services and method of reimbursement. ⋯ Although the Korean health insurance system achieved universal coverage during a remarkably short time-span, there is much room for improvement. In this regard, the article also highlights the problems related to Korea's health insurance system and the attempts to improve equity and efficiency in both financing and provision of services.
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World Hosp Health Serv · Jan 1994
The HIV-tuberculosis time bomb: how can hospitals in developing countries cope?
The treatment of the ever-increasing number of people in developing tuberculosis as a consequence of the AIDS epidemic is becoming a new challenge in hospitals. Policies are needed that will ensure high detection anc cure rates, especially of the adult smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis case--the main cause of transmission. Decisions may be required on: case management procedures; counseling; prioritizing in-patient care; out-patient-based supervised care, where feasible; identifying human, material and financial resources to cope with the HIV-related tuberculosis epidemic.