Seoul Medical Association files constitutional appeal over manual therapy limits

The Seoul Medical Association has lodged a constitutional appeal against a new government policy that restricts manual therapy, arguing it infringes upon patients' fundamental right to treatment and their freedom to choose medical services. The appeal targets provisions within the enforcement decree of the National Health Insurance Act concerning the 'managed care benefit' system.

This managed care benefit system, introduced last month, assigns standard prices to services that medical institutions previously set prices for independently. While the government states the policy aims to curb unnecessary over-treatment, the medical community contends that it imposes a one-size-fits-all limitation on medical use, disregarding individual patient conditions.

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If the government limits costs or frequency of use, there is a concern that patients may not receive appropriate treatment according to their condition.

The association asserts that government-imposed limits on costs or frequency of treatment could prevent patients from receiving appropriate care tailored to their specific medical needs. They argue this effectively violates the constitutional rights to health and treatment choice. The appeal includes both doctors and patients as petitioners.

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This effectively infringes on the people's constitutional right to health and the right to choose treatment.