# Korea's gap in preventable hospital admissions between districts grew from 27.6% to 41.3% in 2007–2019

- Published: 2026-11-10 12:42 UTC
- Section: Life & Health › Medicine
- Tags: preventable hospitalizations, regional health gap, Korea primary care, standardized admission rate, chronic disease admissions, vaccine-preventable diseases, Jeonnam and Seoul, outpatient care
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-3ca9f6e52bee7093cf742887_korea_s_gap/

**The Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service reported that the gap in preventable admissions between municipalities grew 1.5-fold, while the national rate barely changed.**

South Korea's Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service presented a study of preventable hospitalizations and regional gaps at the 2026 second-half conference of the Korean Academy of Health Policy and Management, yna.co.kr reported on 10 November. [1] Preventable hospitalizations are admissions that could be avoided by regular management, early treatment, vaccination and other appropriate outpatient care. The analysis covers 2007–2019. The years 2020–2025 were excluded because the COVID-19 epidemic and the dispute between the government and doctors disrupted inpatient services. [1]

The national standardized rate of preventable admissions fell by 0.23% a year on average, which the study describes as little change. [1] Admissions for chronic conditions declined by 2.88% a year. Acute conditions rose from 504 to 589 cases per standard population group (1.35% a year), and vaccine-preventable diseases from 507 to 829 (4.35% a year). [1]

The gap between municipalities widened from 27.6% in 2007 to 41.3% in 2019, a 1.5-fold increase. [1] Every year the top 10% of municipalities by admission rate were in Jeonnam, a region with comparatively few medical resources, and the bottom 10% were in Seoul. The rate in the top group rose, while in the bottom group it fell. [1]

The study was carried out to check the quality of community primary care within a pilot program for community primary care. Under the pilot, residents aged 50 and over choose a personal physician at a local clinic and receive tailored services, from treatment and medication to care coordination. The agency's head, Hong Seung-kwon, said he expects the pilot to expand and the gaps to narrow. [1]

## Sources

1. [yna.co.kr](https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20261110068100530)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-3ca9f6e52bee7093cf742887_korea_s_gap/