역사적 관점으로 본 자본주의와 건강, 그리고 한국의 의료민영화

Abstract

This paper reviews the current medical privatization in Korea through the lens of the historical development and decline of the public health system in the western countries, examined by three recent works in the field. For the review, this paper focuses on the three main topics regarding the relationship between health and capitalism: the right to health, the multinational companies in the global medical industry, and the concepts of health and disease. First, this paper examines the right to health and the formation of public health system based on it. Second, this paper shows the strategies of multinational companies for extending their medical markets and the frustration of public health due to it. Lastly, this paper discusses how multinational pharmaceutical companies have changed disease concepts and health care practices in the development of new drugs. On the basis of these topics, this paper emphasizes the importance of critical approach to the medical privatization and its effect on public health in Korea.