| [ Summary ] |
Korea provides population‒based screening programs. However, the screening rates are much higher in Korea than in Japan. Population‒based cancer screening in Korea is coordinated well with social health insurance under a unified system. The screening rate of cancer is over 70 %, which is much higher than that in Japan. In Korea, public healthcare does not cover a wide range of services. Nearly free cancer screening and subsidized medical expenses for cancers detected by population‒based screening provides a high incentive for participation. In Japan, in contrast, greater coverage of medical services, low co‒payments, and a lenient medical audit enables cancer screening under public health insurance and also covers a broad range of cancer screening. The implementation of evidence‒based cancer screening programs may be largely dependent on the prevailing healthcare system. Understanding the impacts of each healthcare system as a whole and matching the characteristics of a particular healthcare system is important when designing an efficient cancer screening program. |