Health Policy Manag.  2024 Sep;34(3):223-225. 10.4332/KJHPA.2024.34.3.223.

Health Care Policy: Decision-Making System Needs Innovation

• Lee SH

• KMID: 2562579
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4332/KJHPA.2024.34.3.223

Abstract

It has been 7 months since medical students boycotted classes and resident doctors left hospitals in protest against the government’s policy to increase the number of doctors. As education was suspended and services at university hospitals reduced, medical gaps in medical care have emerged. As a result, concerns are growing about a potential crisis in the healthcare system. The reason for the doctors’ strong opposition to the policy lies in several issues that need improvement in the government’s decision-making process. By reviewing these issues, we look forward to drawing lessons for making better policy decisions in the future. First, because the evidence supporting policy decisions has various characteristics and scopes, it is important to thoroughly discuss these grounds with stakeholders. Second, the discussion structure for reviewing evidence and making decisions should consist of members capable of fully negotiating diverse perspectives and should be operated through a fair and transparent process. If these steps are not properly implemented, conflicts surrounding the evidence could escalate, thereby lowering trust in the government. When stakeholders lose trust in the government, the social costs of implementing policies may rise, and policy efficiency may decline. Therefore, it is time to restructure the decision-making system in the direction of reducing potential conflicts that may arise during the future policy implementation process and increasing trust in the government.

Keyword

Decision-making system; Innovation; Health care policy