This paper attempts a quantitative analysis of the extent of healthcare service utilization decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic, considering concerns about its potential long-term negative impacts on public health. Using data from the Korea Welfare Panel from 2012 to 2021, the study examines the impact of the pandemic on healthcare service usage measured by four indicators: the number of health check-ups, outpatient visits, hospital admissions, and hospital days. The analysis employs a panel Poisson regression model and includes subsample analyses for vulnerable groups such as those with chronic diseases and the elderly. The analysis results indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a distinctly negative impact on the utilization of healthcare services, including health check-ups, outpatient services, and hospital admissions. This reduction in service use was especially pronounced among chronic disease patients and the elderly, who typically depend more heavily on healthcare services. The overall decrease in healthcare utilization due to the pandemic, and the fact that this decrease was more significant among vulnerable populations, is noteworthy as it may have long-term negative repercussions on public health. To accurately evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the healthcare sector and develop future countermeasures, it is necessary to analyze the negative ripple effects on public health caused by the decline in healthcare service utilization.
Read full abstract