[기고] Health doctor system for the disabled that eliminates health inequality

The ‘Act on Guaranteeing Health Rights and Medical Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities’, which came into force in 2017, ensures that disabled people will not be discriminated against in health care and health care services on the basis of disability, and that disabled people will have equal access to health care and health care services as non-disabled people. It is stated that they have the right (Article 2).

However, many disabled people still do not receive proper medical services. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s survey on the status of persons with disabilities, this was mainly due to difficulties in using medical facilities due to economic reasons (2012).

According to a study on ‘Measures to Promote the Health Rights of the Disabled’ published by the Human Rights Commission in 2014, the most uncomfortable thing for disabled people when using hospitals and clinics and receiving treatment was ‘doctors’ lack of understanding and consideration for the characteristics of disabilities’ (35%). This shows that the primary care physician system for the disabled is the most important in resolving health inequalities for the disabled.

Health care professionals’ lack of understanding of disabilities is pointed out in various ways. Scientists emphasize the importance of improving the understanding of the disability characteristics of severely disabled people by health care professionals and the multidisciplinary approach required for people with complex disabilities. Social scientists argue that the health of people with disabilities is not just an individual’s problem but is influenced by the social environment.

Medical intervention is not aimed at simply treating injuries; it requires medical research and effort to make a real difference in the lives of people with disabilities. However, there is still a long way to revitalize the health care physician system for the disabled to protect the health rights of the disabled.

Disabled people also don’t know much about the primary care doctor system.

A pilot project for the Disabled Health Doctor System began in 2018, but participation by doctors is very low. According to 2023 special education statistics, 87% of disabled people answered that they did not know about the disabled health doctor system. However, when asked about the introduction of the health doctor system for the disabled and their intention to use it, 54% of disabled people responded that they would like to use the health doctor system. These results show the need for promotion of how to use the health care physician system.

Although the number of disabled people using a primary care physician is gradually increasing, the proportion is still only 0.5% of all disabled people. In addition, 60% of the disabled health doctor participants are over 60 years old, and the participation of disabled people in their 10s to 30s is minimal. Young people are usually considered healthy and older people are considered less healthy. This is both right and wrong. This is because it varies depending on the meaning of health.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines ‘health’ as ​​a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. To explain being healthy, it means being able to eat delicious meals, sleep well, have a happy mind, and live in harmony with society.

In order to live and participate in society, the cooperation of not only people in the health and medical field but also educational experts is required to revitalize the primary care physician system for the disabled. This is because academic achievement (education), which can be converted into social capital such as economic capital and occupational status, is essential for the well-being (health) of the disabled in modern society.

The challenges for disabled people to utilize the primary care physician system are:

The tasks for disabled people to actively utilize the disabled health doctor system are as follows. First, we must increase physical, economic, and psychological accessibility. Second, there must be more doctors to see. Third, services that reflect the needs of people with disabilities are needed. By accomplishing these tasks, our society will be able to contribute to resolving health inequalities among people with disabilities.

Jo Joo-hee

Professor, Department of Teaching, Chongshin University