Further information about the problems of
South Korean Atomic Bomb Victims.
The South Korean government announced that
they would improve medical treatment for
the atomic bomb victims in the country instead
of suspending for the victims going to Japan
for medical treatment.
The South Korean government launched the
National Health Insurance System (20% to
30% charge for patients) I 1989.
The Japanese government decided to donate
42,000,000 yen as "corporation to the
medical treatment for the atomic bomb victims
in South Korea."
In this year the South Korean government
also started free medical treatment in the
country and free medical examination at the
assigned hospitals once a year for the victims.
The atomic bomb victims in South Korea need
to follow these necessary procedures for
receiving "free medical treatment."
First, they need to pass the investigation
for designated as victim held by the Association.
Second, they need to register themselves
to the Association after acknowledged by
Welfare Improvement Committee" represented
by South Korean Red Cross, the Association,
and Department of Social Insurance of South
Korea.
Lastly, they need to receive "Certificate
of medical treatment as designated atomic
bomb victim" issued by South Korean
Red Cross.
Whey they show the "Certificate of medical
treatment' and "Medical Insurance Certificate
("Medical Protection Certificate for
persons on welfare) to the hospital, the
government will pay for the patient's charge.
However, this procedure is practically changed
depending on the hospitals.
The patients do not have to pay for their
medical treatment as far as they use five
general hospitals in major cities and seven
organizations of South Korea Red Cross designated
as the 'assigned hospitals for atomic bomb
victims" by "Welfare Improvement
Committee," because these hospitals
and organizations send the bill directly
to the Association. (But, even in this case,
patients have to submit "a letter of
medical treatment request" issued by
each branch office of the Association to
the hospital beforehand.)
However, the patients have to pay when they
use clinics or public hospitals. Their medical
charge will be paid back to them when they
claim their charge to the Association with
receipt later.
Practically, it was almost impossible to
take such complicated procedures and pay
the treatment even temporarily for the victims
who became old and lacked even living expence.
It turned out that this system cold only
work for the victims who lived close to the
designated hospitals or to the branch offices
of the Association.
Moreover, the doctors in South Korea, who
did not know well about aftereffect of radiation
exposure and did not have much experience
of such treatment, tended to treat atomic
bomb victims' symptoms as one of those of
common adult diseases.
Many victims had to continue temporal symptomatic
treatment by expensive drugs.
(From war reparations q revised edition
r50 years-bombing requested that
the South Korean Atomic Bomb Victims talks)
Further information about the problems of
South Korean Atomic Bomb Victims.
Association of Citizens for Supporting South
Korean Atomic Bomb Victims.