| The Korean government strives to make the latest and best health care available in urban and rural areas. An employer deducts a small amount from an employee's monthly pay cheque to cover health insurance costs. Coverage includes dental health care. Each family has a health care card. The eldest son can obtain coverage for his retired parents. | ||
| Licensed pharmacists prescribe and dispense prescription drugs, with some exceptions. Antibiotics and pills that contain codeine are easily available, whereas sleeping pills are not. Visiting a doctor to get a prescription for medicines such as antibiotics may seem unusual for Koreans who come to Canada. |
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| The Korean government recognizes both traditional and modern medicines. Acupuncture and herbal remedies are popular and commonly used. Ginseng is grown in many varieties and is brewed like tea to treat colds. Traditional doctors also recommend massages, dieting, therapeutic baths and stretching and breathing exercises to maintain good health. The average life expectancy in Korea is 73.5 years. |