Health technology assessment in South Korea.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze evolution of the health technology assessment (HTA) at the national level in South Korea.


METHODS
Analysis of public documents, personal communication, and literative review.


RESULTS
HTA in South Korea has been developed since 1990s, first introduced by academia and institutionalized within the National Health Insurance (NHI). Rapidly increasing expenditure had been a challenge of the NHI, which considered health technology management as a cost controlling measure. An amendment was made to the NHI Law in 2000, and provision was made to regulate the process of determining new insurance benefits including procedures, drugs, and equipment. This requirement made the NHI agencies to promote HTA approaches in connection with the government and professional organizations. Also the Healthcare Act was revised in October 2006 ruling that HTA focusing on safety and effectiveness be responsible for new health technologies. Currently, the HTA process is governed by a governmental committee comprising twenty members and technically supported by the HTA center created in the NHI structure.


CONCLUSIONS
Institutionalized HTA in Korea has been driven mainly by the requirements of the NHI and manifested strengths as well as weaknesses. The government is establishing a new organization for HTA, independent from the NHI.
Kim
Chang-yup
CY
Seoul National University School of Public Health, Seoul 110-799, Korea. cykim@snu.ac.kr
D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D007723:Korea; D012196:Review Literature as Topic; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical / Q000266:history* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration