Up to half of Korea’s Tuberculosis patients face catastrophic costs. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, June 5 (Korea Bizwire) — Despite generous government subsidies covering most medical expenses for tuberculosis (TB) patients in South Korea, nearly half still experience “catastrophic costs” due to hidden expenses like nutrition, transportation, and lost income, according to a landmark 2025 study.
The report, commissioned by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) and conducted by Korea University researchers, revealed that 41.4% of drug-sensitive TB patients and 52.9% of those with multidrug-resistant TB faced costs exceeding 20% of their annual household income — a threshold defined as “catastrophic” by the World Health Organization.
The findings are particularly striking in South Korea, where medical co-payments for TB are virtually eliminated under the government’s special subsidy program. However, the study found that only around 10% of total patient costs stemmed from direct medical fees.
Instead, the majority came from indirect burdens: nutritional supplements, travel to healthcare facilities, and income lost due to inability to work.
Among those hardest hit were low-income households. Nearly 79% of patients in families earning less than 2 million won ($1,450) per month reported catastrophic costs, compared to just 5% among those earning over 8 million won.
“Treatment may be free, but everything else is not,” said one 30-something female patient with drug-resistant TB. “Getting nutritious food and making trips to the hospital still costs a lot.” Another 60-year-old male patient reported quitting his job and losing his household’s main source of income after his diagnosis.
The study is South Korea’s first nationwide effort to quantify the non-medical burdens of TB. It urges the government to go beyond healthcare subsidies and introduce broader social protections, including paid sick leave and temporary income support.
Researchers called for regular monitoring of catastrophic TB costs and proposed expanding the scope and beneficiaries of existing assistance programs, which currently fail to shield many of the most vulnerable.
The KDCA acknowledged the findings and pledged to work with other ministries to refine support policies in line with the WHO’s End TB Strategy.
TB remains a significant public health concern in South Korea despite progress. In 2024, 17,944 cases were reported — an 8.2% decrease from 2023 — marking the 13th consecutive year of decline. However, the country still has one of the highest TB rates among OECD members, with cases increasingly concentrated among the elderly and those with latent infections.
As the nation strives toward TB elimination, the report underscores that combating the disease will require more than just curing the infection — it must also protect patients from economic ruin.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
