The view of the National Health Insurance Service in Wonju, Gangwon Province./Courtesy of National Health Insurance Service

Over the past 10 years, the average hospital stay for patients with hypertension decreased by 31.1 days, from 38.1 days to 7 days. The average for pneumonia patients decreased from 16.1 days to 11.7 days.

The National Health Insurance Service Health Insurance Research Institute released the results of an analysis on the changes in hospital stay for patients with hypertension and pneumonia from 2010 to 2019.

To enhance the efficiency of health insurance finances, it is important to reduce unnecessary expenditure. South Korea, having the highest hospitalization rate among OECD member countries, is viewed by health authorities as needing management.

Over the past 10 years, the average hospital stay for patients with hypertension and pneumonia has decreased. However, there are still analyses suggesting an issue of excessive prolongation of hospital stays in clinics and hospitals. The Health Insurance Research Institute noted, "Generally, it is inappropriate to be hospitalized primarily due to hypertension, excluding emergency situations."

The National Health Insurance Service Health Insurance Institute releases results analyzing changes in hospitalization periods for hypertension and pneumonia patients from 2010 to 2019. /Courtesy of National Health Insurance Service

It has been shown that there are significant differences in hospital stay depending on the type of medical institution. When categorized into general hospitals or higher (higher general hospital, general hospital) and hospitals or lower (hospital, clinic), the comparison of the "proportion of differences in hospital stay caused by medical institutions" as of 2019 indicated that for hypertension it was 19.6% in general hospitals or higher and 51.8% in hospitals or lower, while for pneumonia it was 6.5% and 26.0%, respectively.

The Health Insurance Research Institute explained, "This means that the hospital stay for both hypertension and pneumonia varies significantly depending on the medical institution where the patient is hospitalized," adding that "there is inefficiency in inpatient treatment in hospitals or lower." The National Health Insurance Service stated, "To minimize differences in hospital stay depending on the medical institution, it seems necessary to establish clinical criteria for appropriate treatment of hypertension and pneumonia."