As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) spread, the temporarily allowed telemedicine was utilized by more than 14 million people over five years; however, it still has not crossed the threshold of 'institutionalization.' While most Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries are cultivating the digital healthcare industry through the legalization of telemedicine, South Korea remains trapped in an unstable framework described as a 'pilot project,' leading to confusion in the medical field and inconvenience for users.
Telemedicine refers to medical practices in which patients receive consultations and prescriptions via voice calls or video calls from home without visiting a medical institution. The government temporarily allowed telemedicine in February 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult to visit medical institutions and the number of infected patients surged. Prescription delivery was also permitted. It provided significant assistance to patients, but due to fluctuating applicability based on medical circumstances, it still remains a pilot project without a legal basis.
◇Among 32 OECD countries, only South Korea lacks a legal system
During the three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine was performed a total of 36 million times. In June 2023, as the COVID crisis alert level was downgraded, telemedicine transitioned from temporary allowance to a pilot project format. Initially, only hospitals visited within the last six months were eligible for telemedicine, and prescription delivery was prohibited.
The stringent conditions of use led to a series of complaints from users. This was because it was impossible to receive medical treatment if patients could not remember the hospital they visited or if the hospital did not participate in telemedicine. As the medical gap widened due to the departure of about 10,000 interns in early 2024, the government significantly relaxed regulations on the telemedicine pilot project. Starting in June of the same year, telemedicine was fully permitted regardless of the treatment target.
However, it still remains a pilot project without a legal basis, and prescription delivery has only been allowed in a limited manner for some vulnerable groups. On the other hand, countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Switzerland, Japan, and Canada, which have entered an aging society similar to South Korea, have all legalized telemedicine and prescription delivery. Among OECD countries, South Korea is the only nation that has not legalized telemedicine.
On the 21st, Choi Bo-yoon, a member of the People Power Party and a member of the Health and Welfare Committee of the National Assembly, said at a policy discussion on the 'legalization of telemedicine' held at the National Assembly's member's building in Yeouido, Seoul, that 'While major OECD countries are already improving the quality and accessibility of healthcare services through the institutionalization of telemedicine, South Korea still remains within the framework of a pilot project,' and added, 'It can no longer be delayed.'
◇Abroad, AI is being integrated; Industrial cultivation must be expedited
To establish a legal basis for telemedicine, amendments to the medical law are necessary, but all six proposed amendments to the medical law submitted in the 21st National Assembly have been discarded without even discussion. In the meantime, the related industry has not even been able to take root.
Lee Seul, co-chairperson of the Remote Medical Industry Council, a telemedicine mediation platform organization, noted that 'While overseas is integrating generative artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the precision of telemedicine, domestically it is still trapped in a pilot project,' and stated that 'In order to increase industrial competitiveness, it must be switched to a negative regulation that broadly allows telemedicine except in situations where it is not possible.'
The government also recognizes the necessity of legalization. Lim Seong-gwan, a Deputy Director of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s Bio-Convergence Industry Division, said at the discussion that 'Abroad, digital healthcare at home is growing into a competitive industry,' and added that 'If the system takes root domestically, sectors such as home healthcare services, home medical devices, and AI data analysis businesses are expected to grow significantly.'
Sung Chang-hyun, director of the Health and Medical Policy Division at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, also stated, 'There are now almost no voices opposing telemedicine.' Director Sung emphasized, 'The issue is how to legalize it safely and how extensively,' noting that 'Information protection and securing safety in treatment are key challenges.'
Efforts to legalize telemedicine continue in the 22nd National Assembly as well. Starting in March, member Choi Bo-yoon was followed by the same party's member Woo Jae-jun from the Environment and Labor Committee, who proposed amendments to the medical law to establish a legal basis for telemedicine on the 18th of this month.
Member Choi stated, 'Currently, telemedicine is only temporarily permitted during infectious disease crises, and discussions on legalization remain at a crawling pace,' adding that 'Telemedicine is a practical healthcare alternative, especially for the disabled, the elderly, and residents of isolated areas.'