Abstract

Objectives:To research Korean oriental medical doctors’ use of uninsured herbal extracts and how to bring about the insurance coverage of such herbal extracts. Methods:We surveyed Korean oriental doctors about the following issues from October 17th to November 15th, 2008: ① Korean oriental medical doctors’ knowledge about herbal extract insurance and the circumstances of oriental medicine in Korea, ② their opinion on the coverage of currently uninsured herbal extracts and the dispensing of herbal extracts from pharmacies rather than from their clinics, ③ their use of herbal extracts, and ④ how to bring about insurance coverage of uninsured herbal extracts. Results:Over 70% of the respondents said that herbal medicine prescriptions have been reduced recently and that the existence of herbal medicine is in danger. In addition, 63.64% respondents agreed with expanding insurance coverage to include currently uninsured herbal extracts in spite of the fact that patients might have to obtain herbal extracts from pharmacies rather than from Korean oriental medical clinics. The average patient number per month of uninsured herbal extracts was 13.64 people, the average dosage was 5.64g, the average cost per day was 3,859 won, and the average prescription period was 2.65 days. Korean oriental medical doctors asked an average of 12,486 won for the medical examination-prescription fee and 3,292 won in fees for prescriptions obtained outside the hospital. If insurance coverage expands to include these herbal extracts, their usage is expected to increase 2.31 times. Conclusions:This study shows Korean oriental medical doctors’ use of herbal extracts and their opinions about execution of herbal extracts’ insurance. A periodic study such as this one will hopefully aid in establishing polices for uninsured herbal extracts’ insurance.