Controversy erupts over high pricing of telemedicine in S. Korea

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South Korea on Tuesday unveiled its action plan for telemedicine, which is scheduled to be fully implemented within three months, to allow patients to attend hospital appointments by video and phone within the comfort of their own homes.

However, concerns have emerged regarding the pricing of telemedicine services, which are set to be 30 percent higher than regular in-person consultations. Moreover, the plan practically prohibits third-party delivery of prescribed medications.

Critics argue that the pricing structure contradicts the objective of making telemedicine more affordable and convenient, particularly in the post-pandemic context, and may impose an additional burden on citizens.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare presented the telemedicine plan during the Health Insurance Policy Deliberation Committee meeting held on Tuesday. The official implementation is set to begin in September, following a three-month pilot period starting from June 1. Throughout the pilot period, remote consultations, which are currently allowed for both first-time and follow-up hospital visits, will continue.

The primary focus of the action plan is to limit telemedicine to follow-up visits. Individuals living on islands and islands, seniors aged 65 and over who are in long-term care, people with disabilities, and those who have been diagnosed with an infectious disease can still access virtual care from their first appointment. However, pediatric patients will not be allowed to go virtual for their first appointment, and medication delivery will be prohibited unless exceptional circumstances exist. The ministry also decided not to allow telemedicine for first-time pediatric patients even on weeknights and holidays due to the risk of misdiagnosis.

Furthermore, the government-set price for telemedicine services is 30 percent higher than regular consultation fees. This means higher out-of-pocket expenses for patients compared to regular consultations and the increase in the burden on the national health insurance budget, critics say.