1
|
Kim YS, Noh JW, Lee YH, Kim SG. Mid-Term Strategic Plan for the Public Health and Medical Care Cooperation in the Korean Peninsula. J Korean Med Sci 2024; 39:e39. [PMID: 38288540 PMCID: PMC10825449 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2024.39.e39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
As extensive as the concept of and the resources required for 'Health for Korean Unification' are, and due to the limited access to information on the state of health and medical care in North Korea, discussion on 'Health for Korean Unification' has tended to be intermittent and lacked concrete action plans. In this article, we specifically distinguished areas of cooperation and selected five executable agenda that meet the goals of international development cooperation: 1) Health security; 2) Easing the burden of major diseases; 3) Resilient healthcare system; 4) R&D cooperation; 5) Sustainable cooperation system. Then we provided corresponding strategic priorities and operative directions, in consideration of future military and political sanctions against North Korea. The strategies we outline are sustainable, preemptive for problems that might affect lives of South and North Korean citizens, and satisfy the unmet needs of the North Korean health system. Throughout the process, we utilized a special platform, the 'Korean Peninsula Healthcare Cooperation Platform,' designed to enable continual communication across sectors engaged in public health and medical care. By doing so, we take the first step to actually carry out the 'Health for Korean Unification,' which tended to have remained on the discussion agenda.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yun Seop Kim
- Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jin-Won Noh
- Division of Health Administration, College of Software and Digital Healthcare Convergence, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea
| | - Yo Han Lee
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Healthcare and Medicine for Unified Korea, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Sin Gon Kim
- Department of Healthcare and Medicine for Unified Korea, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Abstract
Helminthiasis is a neglected public health challenge threatening North Koreans. However, there is no precise estimate on the burden of helminthiasis in the region. This study therefore reviewed existing literature with the aim of analyzing the current state of helminthiasis among North Koreans, as well as highlighting the difference in the prevalence of helminthiasis between North Korean residents and refugees. All published resources citing helminthiasis among North Koreans were screened through the PubMed and a Korean bibliographic database as of April 2019. Official papers reported by the government and international agencies, as well as reports and books published in North Korea, were reviewed. After removing duplicated government reports, a total of 37 records were screened, and four were determined to be included for review. The total number of study subjects was 621 from the four eligible studies. Forty percent of them were refugees living outside North Korea. Total positive rate of any kind of helminths was 37.7%. Ascaris was the most widespread helminths with a prevalence estimate of 41.1%. The total positive rate of helminthiasis among residents living in North Korea was significantly higher than that among North Korean refugees (47.2% vs. 23.4%, chi-square p-value < 0.001). Poor hygiene, malfunctioning public health infrastructure, and feculent agricultural practices accounted for the spread of helminthiasis. Appropriate strategies and policies should be developed to prevent and alleviate helminthiasis in North Korea.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eunsuk Chang
- Carolina Health Informatics Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Park JJ, Lim AY, Ahn HS, Kim AI, Choi S, Oh DH, Lee-Park O, Kim SY, Jung SJ, Bump JB, Atun R, Shin HY, Park KB. Systematic review of evidence on public health in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. BMJ Glob Health 2019; 4:e001133. [PMID: 30997161 PMCID: PMC6441257 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2018-001133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Engaging in public health activities in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, also known as North Korea) offers a means to improve population health for its citizens and the wider region. Such an engagement requires an understanding of current and future needs. Methods We conducted a systematic search of five English and eight Korean language databases to identify available literature published between 1988 and 2017. A narrative review of evidence was conducted for five major categories (health systems, communicable diseases (CDs), non-communicable diseases (NCDs), injuries, and reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) and nutrition). Findings We found 465 publications on the DPRK and public health. Of the 253 articles that addressed major disease categories, we found under-representation of publications relative to proportion of disease burden for the two most significant causes: NCDs (54.5% publications vs 72.6% disability adjusted life years (DALYs)) and injuries (0.4% publications vs 12.1% DALYs), in comparison to publications on the third and fourth largest disease burdens, RMNCH and nutrition (30.4% publications vs 8.6% DALYs) and CDs (14.6% publications vs 6.7% DALYs) which were over-represented. Although most disease category articles were on NCDs, the majority of NCD articles addressed mental health of refugees. Only 165 articles addressed populations within the DPRK and among these, we found publication gaps on social and environmental determinants of health, CDs, and NCDs. Conclusion There are gaps in the public health literature on the DPRK. Future research should focus on under-studied, significant burdens of disease. Moreover, establishing more precise estimates of disease burden and their distribution, as well as analysis on health systems responses aimed at addressing them, can result in improvements in population health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John J Park
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ah-Young Lim
- Institute for Health and Unification Studies, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung-Soon Ahn
- Institute for Health and Unification Studies, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Andrew I Kim
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Soyoung Choi
- Institute for Health and Unification Studies, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - David Hw Oh
- Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Owen Lee-Park
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sharon Y Kim
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sun Jae Jung
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jesse B Bump
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rifat Atun
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hee Young Shin
- Institute for Health and Unification Studies, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kee B Park
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|