PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.15 No.29, July 21, 2022 Article TypeEpidemiology and SurveillanceNoncommunicable Disease StatisticsPolicy Notes

• Policy Notes 2022-07-21

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  National fundholding system for rare disease in the Republic of Korea

  Hyewon Jang, SunKyung Baek, Jiwon Lee, Hong Seok Choi

  Public Health Weekly Report 2022; 15(29): 2067-2078

  

  

  Abstract

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  Rare diseases are characterized by its rarity and intractabiliy. In the Republic of Korea (ROK), a rare disease is defined to have a prevalence of less than 20,000 individuals. Furthermore, patients experience a substantial amount of medical burden due to the intractable nature of rare diseases. Therefore, the ROK government financially supports low-income rar+e disease patients through a special national fundholding system, called the "Rare Disease Subsidy" project.
  As of 2021, there were 1,086 rare diseases and 24 severe intractable diseases which were eligible for the project. Applications to be enrolled in the ‘Rare Disease Subsidy“ are available at near-by regional public health care centers or via the internet. Recipients can renew their enrollment every two years after receiving regular investigation into their income and property.
  In 2021, the rare disease with the largest number of beneficiaries was ‘Moyamoya disease(I67.5)’. ‘Hurler syndrome(E76.2)’ recorded the highest average expense of support per patient. There were 39 diseases for which the average expense of support per patient was more than 5 million won, accounting for 38.9% of the total support budget.
  As the directing unit of the project, the division of Rare Disease Management has been exerting various efforts to outstretch national support, such as discovering novel rare diseases, constructing the on-line application system, modifying criteria to relax regulations for applicants and so forth, in order to provide better health care for patients with rare diseases.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2022-07-21

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  Case report tuberculosis contact investigation in a food delivery company

  Jeongmin Park, Youngsun Choi, Yeonjung Kim

  Public Health Weekly Report 2022; 15(29): 2079-2084

  

  

  Abstract

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  The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) oversees tuberculosis (TB) epidemiological investigations. In addition, the KDCA established and implemented national policies for TB prevention and management. This report covered a case where an employee of a food delivery company was reported as a TB patient in June 2021. A contact survey was conducted on all six members of the food delivery company. There were no additional TB patients, but all six employees (100%) were diagnosed with latent tuberculosis infection.
  Drivers in the food delivery industry business are a special type of worker and are not included in the general physical examination under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, so systematic health care such as regular physical examinations are required. About 40% of TB patients belonging to collective facilities were identified via physical examination in the Gyeongnam region in 2020 and 2021, showing the importance of regular physical examinations to prevent TB.
  Therefore, it is critical to recognize and carefully manage the health risk factors in food delivery companies for TB prevention management. The KDCA, regional centers for disease control and prevention and rapid response measures will continue to strengthen the TB prevention management system through close cooperation with local health authorities.

• Noncommunicable Disease Statistics 2022-07-21

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  Trends in prevalence of current drinking among adolescents, 201-2021

  Public Health Weekly Report 2022; 15(29): 2085-2086

  

  

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