○ Passed an ordinance to improve public healthcare access and establish a collaborative healthcare system for foreign residents on June 24
– Aiming to strengthen public healthcare access and build a collaborative healthcare system for uninsured foreign residents facing financial and language barriers, helping protect community public health
○ Gyeonggi Province has established an institutional foundation to ensure that foreign residents who are not covered by the National Health Insurance (NHI) system, including undocumented foreign nationals, can receive necessary medical services.
○ On June 26, the province announced that the “Gyeonggi Province Ordinance on Improving Public Healthcare Access and Establishing a Collaborative Healthcare System for Foreign Residents” was approved by the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly on June 24.
○ The ordinance’s greatest significance lies in institutionalizing healthcare access for foreign residents as a matter of strengthening the community’s public healthcare safety net, rather than treating it as an individual hardship or a one-time support measure.
○ For foreign residents who are not covered by the NHI system, accessing medical care often presents a substantial financial burden. Medical costs are higher due to international pricing, while language barriers and limited access to healthcare information frequently discourage or prevent individuals from seeking treatment even when they experience symptoms.
○ The province explained that it introduced the ordinance because delayed or inadequate access to necessary medical services for uninsured foreign residents could lead not only to worsening individual health conditions but also to broader public health risks, including more severe medical emergencies and the spread of infectious diseases.
○ The ordinance includes provisions that define: the provincial governor’s responsibilities for improving healthcare access for uninsured foreign residents and strengthening the public healthcare safety net; eligibility requirements and priority support categories; cooperation with partner medical institutions, public healthcare organizations, and private medical support organizations; medical interpretation services and the provision of healthcare information; and connections to public health services, including vaccinations and infectious disease management.
○ Based on the ordinance, Gyeonggi Province plans to first secure partnerships with medical institutions and establish a comprehensive support system that includes medical interpretation, accompaniment services, counseling, and case management so that uninsured foreign residents can access both medical treatment and public healthcare services. The province also plans to strengthen cooperation with six public hospitals operated by the Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center, local public health centers, and private medical support organizations to expand access to essential public healthcare services such as vaccinations and infectious disease management.
○ Eligible recipients include foreign residents who are not covered by the NHI system, have resided in Gyeonggi Province for at least 90 days, and are recognized as requiring public healthcare support. Pregnant women, infants and young children, and individuals suspected or confirmed to have infectious diseases will receive priority assistance. Support will be limited to cases recognized as necessary for public health purposes, including infectious disease prevention and maternal and child healthcare.
○ The province emphasized that the ordinance is not intended to replace the NHI system or create a separate healthcare system. Rather, its purpose is to connect foreign residents who fall outside existing systems with public health services and local medical resources. Instead of providing direct financial assistance for medical expenses, the ordinance focuses on reducing gaps in public healthcare by linking existing systems with local healthcare resources, thereby helping prevent treatment delays and reducing public health risks across local communities.
○ Going forward, Gyeonggi Province plans to consult with relevant departments, municipal governments, medical institutions, private mutual aid organizations, and foreign resident support organizations to establish detailed implementation procedures and operational plans.
○ Kim Seong-hwan, Director of the Gyeonggi Province’s Immigration Society Support Division, stated, “The health rights of foreign residents who fall outside the NHI system are not simply an issue affecting a particular group, but one that concerns the health and safety of the entire community.” He added, “Based on the purpose of this ordinance, we will carefully examine ways to improve healthcare access and strengthen public-private healthcare cooperation while minimizing unnecessary misunderstandings and controversy, ultimately building a public healthcare safety net that earns broad community support.”