[In-It] The cost of medical treatment for animal hospitals in Korea is not expensive.

Gyeongsangnam-do announced that the'companion animal treatment fee self-indication system' will be implemented at 70 veterinary hospitals in Changwon city.

This is a method in which each hospital autonomously displays the number of 20 items such as first visit and re-treatment, dog and cat vaccination, prevention of parasites including heartworm, chest radiation, and abdominal ultrasound.

Gyeongsangnam-do is planning to expand the system to other regions after implementing a self-indication system for medical treatment at a veterinary hospital in Changwon region.

This system was created by the TF for alleviating the burden of medical expenses for companion animals in Gyeongnam, and the TF included provincial and municipal officials, Gyeongnam Veterinary Association, animal protection organizations, and the insurance industry.

It is meaningful that stakeholders including veterinary organizations participated together.

Gyeongsangnam-do Governor Kim Gyeong-soo also said, "It is important that the stakeholders gather and agree. The Gyeongnam Veterinary Association made a very difficult decision."

The reason this system was promoted is because'many pet guardians feel burdened by the cost of veterinary hospital treatment'.

According to data released last year by the Korea Consumer Agency, 84.8% of consumers (veterinary hospital customers) feel burdened by hospital treatment expenses.

As about 85% of guardians feel the burden, various policies are being promoted to reduce the burden of medical expenses, but some policies are more concerned than the effect.

These include the'preliminary notification system for medical expenses,' which allows medical treatment to be performed only after explaining the price before starting treatment and obtaining consent, and the'standard fee-based system', which is set by the state for medical treatment at veterinary hospitals.

The'preliminary notification system for medical expenses' is a content that obligates the explanation of expected medical expenses for'medical activities prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, such as surgery and blood transfusions, which may cause serious harm to the life or body of animals'.

Many veterinary hospitals are already guiding medical expenses when consulting with their guardians before treatment, but it seems that it is an excessive regulation that violates the autonomy of veterinarians to force them and even punish them for violations.

The'standard fee system' is even more serious.

Unlike those with a medical insurance system, there is a great concern about side effects when the government forcibly sets the cost of treatment for veterinary hospitals that do not receive any subsidies from the government.

For non-indemnity medical treatment for humans (medical treatment that consumers pay for without support from the Health Insurance Corporation, such as cosmetic surgery for cosmetic purposes), the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (Shimpyeongwon) only investigate some medical expenses, but do not set the medical expenses themselves.

However, if the cost of treatment is decided, it is highly likely that the consumer's right to choose is violated and the quality of medical care is degraded due to the low cost.

Let's assume that the country has set a price of 300,000 won for double eyelid surgery and 500,000 won for rhinoplasty surgery.

Since it is the same price, hospitals do not have to use good surgical methods or expensive drugs, and they will choose the least expensive surgery method.

Then, even if you pay expensive money, consumers who want to get good health care will not get the opportunity.

The reason why such an unreasonable system is being promoted begins with the prejudice that'veterinary hospital treatment costs are expensive'.

However, if you look at it, the cost of medical treatment for animal hospitals in Korea is cheap.

Expensive is a relative expression, but the cost of medical treatment at veterinary hospitals in Korea is naturally lower than that for humans, and is cheaper than medical treatment at overseas veterinary hospitals.

Many people complain, "When I go to the hospital, I don't pay a few thousand won, but a dog costs tens of thousands of won."

However, this is based on out-of-pocket expenses among human medical expenses.

If you look at the hospital treatment fee receipt, the'industrial copayment' and'personal copayment' are separately indicated, and the copayment rate is around 20%.

In other words, you only pay an 80% discount.

Even some items have an out-of-pocket rate of 5%, and even out-of-pocket expenses are returned from private insurance for loss-of-loss insurance.

Then, who pays the industrial complex burden?

As you know, it is paid by the Health Insurance Corporation.

Who pays the money?

All citizens pay it every month.

For example, if a company employee Kim Hospital paid 200,000 won for health insurance a month, the company pays the same amount more, so he actually pays 400,000 won a month for health insurance.

Even if he does not go to the hospital or pharmacy once a year, Kim Hospital is already paying 4.8 million won in medical expenses a year.

In addition, what if OO Insurance and XX Life Insurance's actual loss insurance costs are combined?

It will exceed 5 million won.

However, there is no'companion animal health insurance system'.

In other words, 100% of the cost of animal treatment is the responsibility of the person.

Therefore, it is a false argument to say that'veterinary hospital expenses are more expensive' compared to human medical expenses with an average co-payment rate of 20%.

The same goes for the drug price.

Although the country provides support for medicine for humans, the burden is higher because 100% of the cost of medicine for veterinary hospitals is borne by the guardian.

There are some people who say,'Even animals should also introduce a health insurance system', and I would like to ask those who raise animals.

"Can I pay a certain amount of animal health insurance premiums according to my monthly income even if I never go to the veterinary hospital?"

Some will say yes, but I think that social consensus on the introduction of the animal health insurance system is impossible in the situation where even the (mandatory) animal registration rate is less than half.

Furthermore, compared to other countries, the cost of medical treatment for veterinary hospitals in Korea is at a similar level or is rather low.

Comprehensive Dog Vaccine (DHPPL), Cesarean section surgery, patella dislocation surgery, female neutralization surgery, and male neutralization surgery were surveyed in eight Asian countries, including Korea, and as a result, Korea was inexpensive or similar to that of Asian countries.

Even some items were cheaper than Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.

According to the <Research Report on How to Reduce the Burden of Consumer Medical Expenses for Revitalizing the Companion Animal Industry>, there are various variables and limitations of the survey, but compared to the US and Germany, the cost of medical treatment in Korea's veterinary hospitals was rather low.

There is one reason to write such a difficult story long.

If a policy to ease the burden of veterinary hospital medical expenses is implemented on the false premise that'veterinary hospital medical expenses are expensive', there will only be a policy where veterinarians sacrifice unilaterally, and this is not a correct policy.

As 85% of guardians feel burdened with veterinary treatment costs, no one will object to the need to prepare measures.

However, in the'animal medical market', where there is no'national animal health insurance system' and no public institutions such as'National Health Insurance Corporation' or'Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service', the problem should not be solved with stronger regulations alone. .

In that sense, it would be nice to refer to the case of Gyeongnam, where a TF that even participated in the Veterinary Association was formed and discussed.

I also ask the consumers.

As explained earlier, animal treatment in Korea is not expensive.

It is cheaper than human medical treatment, and cheaper than overseas animal hospital medical treatment.

So, if you feel overwhelmed by medical bills, consider purchasing pet insurance before raising concerns to veterinary clinics and veterinarians.

Several insurance companies are already selling various pet insurance products.

#In-It #In-It #Lee Hak-Beom #Alumni Alumni #In

[In-It] Pets also need'social distance'