의료관광 활성화 정책의 문제점과 정책적 대응에 관한 시론적 연구

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the problems and the casual factors regarding medical tourism promotion policies and to suggest counter measures to mitigate those problems. Korean policies relevant to medical tourism promotion were reviewed and potential problems and their casual factors were analyzed through literature reviews. Potential problems discussed in the literature were an outflow of excellent medical specialists, an outflow of profits, a rise in medical costs, an expansion of medical service gaps between the rich and the poor, and a lack of policy effectiveness. Causal factors for those problems identified include the privatization of medical services, the expansion of private medical insurance and an ineffective implementation body for tourism policies. Based on case analyses of selected countries that implemented the relevant policies, three strategies to mitigate the potential problems were suggested. First, in order to minimize the problems from medical promotion policies, a strong public medical service system needs to be formulated. Second, a medical service information system in which all information is transparent needs to be operated to encourage competition among medical service organizations preventing an unnecessary increase in medical costs. Thirdly, an implementation body consisting of organizations relevant to medical tourism should be formulated in order to ensure comprehensive and effective policies.