이 연구는 1990년대 중반 이후 서구 선진국들이 특별한 관심을 기울이고 있는 의료체계의 반응성을 폭넓게 다루고 있다. 이 연구의 목적은 우리나라 의료체계의 반응성 수준을 평가하고 이를 높이기 위한 전략을 탐색하고자 하는 것이다. 이러한 연구목적을 달성하기 위하여 WHO와 NERA의 반응성 개념을 소개하고 반응성이 의료체계의 성과나 다른 하위 목표들과 어떤 관련성을 갖는지 문헌고찰 하였다. 또한 문헌을 바탕으로 우리나라 의료체계의 반응성 수준을 가늠할 수 있게 하는 실증적인 자료들을 수집하고 이를 반응성의 관점에서 분석하였다. 이 연구는 보험자 중심의 우리나라 의료체계가 소비자 중심의 의료체계로 이행해가는 것이 의료개혁의 올바른 방향이라고 제시하고 있다. 이러한 개혁을 위해서 경쟁원리 도입과 소비자 선택권 증대를 위한 대안들을 제시하였다.

This study handles widely the responsiveness of health care system on which European developed countries have focused specially since mid 1990s. This study purports to evaluate the responsiveness level in Korean health care system and to explore strategies for improvement of it. To accomplish these purport, this study presents the concept of responsiveness that is suggested by WHO/NERA and reviews the literature about responsiveness in relation to the performance and the sub-objectives in health care system. This study investigates the current empirical data to explain and evaluate the responsiveness in Korean health care system on the basis of literature. This study suggests that Korean health care system be reformed from the third payer (government)-centered to the consumer-centered. In Addition, This study suggests that Korean health care system introduce the principle of competition and alternatives to extension to consumers' rights of choice.

This study handles widely the responsiveness of health care system on which European developed countries have focused specially since mid 1990s. This study purports to evaluate the responsiveness level in Korean health care system and to explore strategies for improvement of it. To accomplish these purport, this study presents the concept of responsiveness that is suggested by WHO/NERA and reviews the literature about responsiveness in relation to the performance and the sub-objectives in health care system. This study investigates the current empirical data to explain and evaluate the responsiveness in Korean health care system on the basis of literature. This study suggests that Korean health care system be reformed from the third payer (government)-centered to the consumer-centered. In Addition, This study suggests that Korean health care system introduce the principle of competition and alternatives to extension to consumers' rights of choice.

Responsiveness, Health Care System, Performance, Health Care Reform