CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1(Purpose) #
The purpose of this Act is to effectively provide citizens with high-quality public health and medical services and contribute to the improvement of national health by prescribing basic matters regarding public health and medical services.
Article 2(Definitions) #
The terms used in this Act are defined as follows: <Amended on Jan. 28, 2015; Feb. 3, 2016; Aug. 17, 2021; Jun. 10, 2022>
1. The term "public health and medical service" means all activities of the State, local governments, and of public and medical institutions to ensure all citizens equal access to medical services and to protect and promote their health, irrespective of which region they live in and to whatsoever class they belong;
2. The term "public health and medical service program" means the following:
(a) Programs for providing medical services to the areas and sectors with difficulties in providing medical services;
(b) Programs for providing medical services to underprivileged classes of people who have less opportunities for health and medical services;
(c) Programs to prevent and manage infectious diseases and non-infectious diseases that require the State and local governments to take measures considering the scale of outbreaks, seriousness, etc., to manage medical treatment, etc. of patients due to disasters, to promote health, and to administer health education;
(d) Other programs specified by Decree of the Ministry of Health and Welfare for health and medical services the State needs to manage;
3. The term "public health and medical institution" means a health and medical institution established and operated by the State, a local government, or a public organization prescribed by Presidential Decree (hereinafter referred to as "public organization") mainly for providing public health and medical services;
4. The term "institution providing public health and medical services" means the following health and medical institutions:
(a) A public health and medical institution;