WASHINGTON (AP) ― The government’s top drug abuse experts struggled Wednesday to find ways to expand use of a medicine which is widely-considered the best therapy for treating heroin and painkiller addiction, but which remains underused a decade after its launch.Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan pressed officials from the White House, the National Institute of Drug Abuse and other agencies to increase access to the buprenorphine, a medication which helps addicts control drug cravings and withdrawal sy

Technology June 19, 2014

What is athlete’s foot?Athlete’s foot is an infectious disease caused by a type of fungus (dermatomyces) that infects the skin between the toes, the lower surface of the foot and the hands. Dermatomyces reproduces actively in a warm, moist environment, so athlete’s foot is common during summer, particularly during the rainy season.Types and symptomsThere are three types of athlete’s foot, which differ according to the location of the infection and the symptoms ― hyperkeratotic, interdigital and

Technology June 19, 2014

The summer has arrived early in Korea this year, as the weather has been unusually warm in June.While it offers more opportunities for outdoor activities and sports, the warm weather also increases the prevalence of summer diseases. The Health Ministry says it is particularly important to be aware of illnesses such as eye infections and mosquito-borne diseases, as well as food-borne illnesses. The best way to avoid eye infections and food-borne diseases is to wash your hands properly and regular

Technology June 19, 2014

Lee Gyeong-ae remembers Dec. 15 of last year as the most monumental day of her life.It was the opening night of the Heart to Heart Orchestra concert, of which her autistic son, Jae-yoon, is a member. Sitting in the Seoul Arts Center, one of the most prestigious venues for the performing arts in South Korea, Lee could not stop crying even before the curtain rose. “I never thought that such a day would come,” Lee said. “I never thought Jae-yoon would one day perform at the Seoul Arts Center. When

Technology June 18, 2014

Many eyes are on the National Insurance Policy Deliberation Committee, as it is scheduled to finalize the health insurance payments for next year by Thursday. The costs are likely to rise as the Park Geun-hye administration last year announced that the national insurance program will gradually broaden its coverage of expenses related to “four major diseases” by 2017. The illnesses are: cancer, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and a total of 138 yet-to-be cured conditions such as Crohn’s di

Technology June 17, 2014

South Korea’s birthrate was the lowest among OECD countries, due largely to the “sampo generation,” those among the nation’s young people who give up dating, marriage and childbirth because of a lack of financial means. According to the CIA’s The World Factbook, last updated on Monday, South Korea’s birthrate was in 219th place among the 224 countries, while Singapore had the lowest. The organization predicted that a South Korean woman would give birth to an average of 1.25 children. A Singapore

Social Affairs June 16, 2014

The Health Ministry plans to raise cigarette prices, which have been fixed at about 2,500 won ($2.45) a pack depending on the brand for the past decade, in order to boost public health. South Korea has the cheapest prices for cigarettes among OCED countries, along with China. Meanwhile, it has one of the highest smoking rates. The smoking rate for Korean adult males is 49 percent.The World Health Organization advises nations which have signed its Framework Convention on Tobacco Control that thei

Technology June 12, 2014

In the wake of the Sewol ferry disaster, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on Tuesday that it will increase the current disaster medical treatment budget by 9.5 times by next year.The ministry will set aside a total of 20.8 billion won ($20.4 million) for emergency medical care next year, increasing the number of hospitals, ambulances and medical staff. The current budget is 2.2 billion won. The 18 regional emergency centers nationwide will be turned into hospitals that specialize in

Social Affairs June 11, 2014

In 2011, South Korea announced a new bill that would impose tougher sentences on people who sexually abuse the disabled, after “Dogani” ― a popular film which dramatized a real-life case of sexual abuse against hearing-impaired schoolchildren ― sparked public outrage. More than 4 million tickets to the film were sold following its release in September that year, and the bill, dubbed the “Dogani Bill,” was passed at the National Assembly just a month after. The new act included an abolishment of

Social Affairs June 8, 2014