The Korea Herald

지나쌤

W5.9tr spent on treatment for 1.44m cancer patients in 2016: report

By Yonhap

Published : Oct. 17, 2017 - 14:10

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The number cancer patients increased 6.3 percent on-year to 1.44 million in 2016 with the cost of treatment reaching 5.9 trillion won ($5.2 million), a report showed Tuesday.

According to the report by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service and the National Health Insurance Corporation, total number of people undergoing cancer treatment moved up from 1.35 million a year earlier. Total amount spent also rose from 5.1 trillion won the previous year, the report said.

The latest findings showed that the cost of cancer treatment increased by an average of 8.4 percent on-year since 2009.

(Yonhap) (Yonhap)

The money used by senior citizens -- those aged over 65 -- for medical treatment came to 25.27 trillion in 2016, up a sharp 13.6 percent from 22.26 trillion won a year earlier, the report said.

Most of the medical spending by senior citizens was to treat senile cataracts, high blood pressure, acute bronchiolitis, and tooth and gum disease, the report showed.

South Korea has one of the fastest aging populations in the world, as advances in medical know-how and greater interest in maintaining good health has resulted in people living longer. (Yonhap)