South Korea to ease family access to dementia, developmental disability patient records

Families in South Korea will soon find it significantly easier to access the medical and medication records of relatives suffering from severe dementia or developmental disabilities. The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced a revision to the 'Guidelines for the Establishment and Operation of the Personal Medical Record Access Support System,' which aims to simplify the verification process for family members acting as legal representatives.

Currently, accessing a relative's medical history often requires preparing documents like a family relationship certificate and visiting the hospital in person. The revised guidelines propose to replace this cumbersome procedure with an automated verification process through data linkage between relevant information systems. This means family members can potentially check these crucial health details through their own mobile apps.

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We will replace the required document submission process with automatic verification through data linkage between relevant information systems when family members (legal representatives) access the medical records of patients with severe dementia, etc.

This update is expected to enhance patient care by allowing families to stay informed about their loved ones' treatments. For instance, when a severely ill patient receives medical attention or is hospitalized, family members can review their medication history and treatment records. This information can help prevent duplicate prescriptions or unnecessary tests, ensuring more efficient and appropriate medical care.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare is currently seeking public opinion on the proposed revisions until next month. Following this period, the ministry plans to finalize and implement the updated guidelines.

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When patients with severe dementia, etc., receive treatment or are hospitalized, family members can check their medication or treatment history to prevent duplicate prescriptions and tests.