From July, medical fees for seven procedures will be fixed and covered by the national health insurance scheme, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said Monday, as a committee of government officials, doctors and other field insiders approved the plan.

The seven treatments are caesarian section, hysterectomy and cataract, hemorrhoid, tonsil, hernia and appendix removal.

The plan will be applied at local clinics and small hospitals from July and will be extended to general hospitals and top-tier teaching hospitals from July 2013.

Regardless of the severity of symptoms and the level of treatment, the patients will pay a prefixed fee, the ministry said. The measure is designed to lower the patients’ medical fees as doctors will refrain from conducting unnecessary treatments as a means to reduce costs, the ministry said.

The precise amounts will be determined based on doctors’ suggestions and the current average medical fees for such treatments.

The committee also approved a plan to provide 500,000 won to pregnant women for their medical fees from April. The current amount is 400,000 won. But 700,000 won will be given to mothers of twins, triplets or more babies from July.

(baejisook@heraldcorp.com)