South Korea to pilot specialized nursing insurance for rare muscular diseases

South Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare will launch a health insurance pilot program in November to provide specialized nursing hospital services for patients with severe muscular rare diseases, such as ALS. The initiative aims to alleviate the heavy financial burden on families, who often face monthly caregiving costs reaching 4 million won.

The program will transition from a fixed-rate payment system to a model that compensates hospitals based on the actual personnel and resources dedicated to each patient. It features four specialized services: multidisciplinary customized medical care, short-term intensive beds for patients transitioning from acute care, emergency response systems for respiratory failure, and community-linked services for post-discharge management.

While the government aims to improve support, medical professionals and patient groups have raised concerns regarding the limited number of participating hospitals and potential long waiting lists. Additionally, the shortage of specialized nursing staff and regional accessibility remain significant challenges for the program's implementation.