J Korean Med Assoc.  2013 Mar;56(3):206-212. 10.5124/jkma.2013.56.3.206.

Current status of policy developments in tackling health inequalities and the next steps to be taken in Korea

Affiliations
  • 1People's Health Institute, Seoul, Korea. mhkim1871@gmail.com
  • 2Department of Sociology, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Considering that health inequalities derive from socioeconomic inequalities, fair policies and strategies to tackle health inequalities must focus on socioeconomic conditions. What is needed here is Health in All Policies, a comprehensive and intersectoral approach beyond health and healthcare sectors. However, based on a review of policies and programs of the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the 3rd National Health Promotion Strategies (Health Plan 2020) in Korea, we conclude that they totally lacked in perspective on health equity and social determinants of health. In fact, even most programs under the name of health equity include only supplementary health services targeted for low-income groups. As socioeconomic inequalities are worsening in Korea, health inequalities are more likely to be further aggravated if timely actions are not taken.

Keyword

Health impact assessment; Health promotion; Policy; Republic of Korea; Socioeconomic factors

MeSH Terms

Health Care Sector
Health Impact Assessment
Health Promotion
Health Services
Korea
Policy Making
Republic of Korea
Socioeconomic Factors

Figure

  • Figure 1 Diderishcen's model for explaining health inequalities (From Solar O, et al. A conceptual framework for action on the social determinants of health: social determinants of health discussion paper 2. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2010, with permission from WHO Publicaton) [2].

  • Figure 2 Framework of national health promotion strategy (From Ministry of Health and Welfare. The 3rd National Health Promotion Strategy 2011-2020. Seoul: Ministry of Health and Welfare; 2011) [6].

  • Figure 3 Action spectrum on inequalities in health (From Whitehead M. Milbank Q 1998; 76:469-492, with permission from Milbank Memorial Fund) [11].


Cited by  3 articles

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One wing of nation's health: reducing health inequalities
Young-Ho Khang
J Korean Med Assoc. 2013;56(3):165-166.    doi: 10.5124/jkma.2013.56.3.165.

Health equity
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J Korean Med Assoc. 2015;58(12):1104-1107.    doi: 10.5124/jkma.2015.58.12.1104.


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