It was found that 6.7 out of 10 citizens aged 19 and older have experience using traditional medicine. The most desired improvement for traditional medicine services was found to be expanding 'insurance coverage.'
The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 30th that it had released the results of the '2024 Traditional Medicine Utilization Survey.'
The traditional medicine utilization survey is a nationally approved statistic that began in 2008. This survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with the general public and traditional medicine users. The results will be used as basic statistical data to support the establishment of traditional medicine policies.
The survey found that the percentage of respondents who reported having experience using traditional medicine was 67.3%. The most common period of utilization was within the past year at 33.6%. The primary reason for using traditional medicine was that it has 'good therapeutic effects,' accounting for 42.5%, followed by 'specialized treatment for specific conditions' and 'lower side effects.'
The utilization rate of traditional medicine decreased slightly compared to the previous survey in 2022, which was 71%, but the satisfaction rate increased from 76.6% to 79.5% during the same period. Reasons for satisfaction included the doctor's attitude, facilities, and treatment outcomes.
The conditions treated with traditional medicine were primarily musculoskeletal disorders at 73.9%. Injuries such as sprains and lacerations, and poisoning accounted for 39.6%, while gastrointestinal disorders followed at 8.7%.
The current purpose of using traditional medicine was predominantly for disease treatment, with traffic accidents coming in second. The survey indicated that 11.2% of outpatient patients and 30.3% of hospitalized patients were utilizing traditional medicine due to traffic accidents. However, the rate of treatment for traffic accidents decreased by 9.7% compared to 2022.
When asked about expenses related to traditional medicine, 37.2% of the general public, 21.5% of outpatient patients, and 33.6% of hospitalized patients responded that it is expensive. The percentage of the general public perceiving it as expensive increased slightly compared to 2022, but there was a significant decrease among current outpatient and hospitalized patients. The treatments that were considered most expensive were herbal prescriptions and acupuncture.
Regarding the improvements needed in traditional medicine services, 'expanding insurance coverage' ranked first. The second most important need identified among patients was 'smooth collaboration with hospitals,' while among the general public, it was 'ensuring the safety of herbal materials.'
Based on this survey, the Ministry of Welfare plans to establish the '5th Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Traditional Medicine (2026-2030).' They are pushing for a 'pilot project for herbal prescription health insurance coverage' in response to public demands for the inclusion of traditional medicine in health insurance, and a 'medical and traditional medicine collaboration pilot project' for collaboration with hospitals.
Jung Young-hoon, the Director of Traditional Medicine Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, noted, 'We were able to identify the various demands of the public for traditional medicine use, especially the need for the establishment of a medical and traditional medicine collaboration system,' and said, 'The five-step medical and traditional medicine collaboration pilot project will begin in the second quarter of this year, and we will implement policies to ensure that the public can smoothly utilize the collaboration system within the health insurance framework.'