Korean Dental Clinics Grapple with Accessibility Challenges as Kiosks Face Regulatory Scrutiny

SOUTH KOREA: The dental industry, grappling with a chronic shortage of assistant manpower, has increasingly turned to kiosks to streamline operations. The efficiency of staffing through kiosks, especially those with advanced functions beyond simple reception, has become a prominent trend. However, the implementation of a law mandating guaranteed accessibility to kiosks for the disabled is looming, bringing forth challenges and regulatory changes.

Regulatory Landscape and Potential Consequences

A law mandating accessibility to kiosks for the disabled is set to be implemented from January 28th next year. The Ministry of Health and Welfare specifies that kiosk providers, including those in the dental industry, must ensure wheelchair access and incorporate various functions to prevent inconvenience for disabled users. Non-compliance may result in correction orders initially and fines of up to 30 million won for subsequent violations.

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Essential Features for Accessibility

To comply with the new regulations, kiosks, including those in dental offices, must incorporate features for the disabled, such as a voice recognition function. Additionally, dental offices are required to install flooring for the visually impaired. The Ministry of Health and Welfare emphasizes the importance of adhering to the ‘Act on Prohibition of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities and Relief of Rights’ to guarantee accessibility.

The enforcement decree will be implemented in three stages, with medical institutions, including dental clinics, falling under the first stage. Starting from January 28th next year, dental clinics must comply with the accessibility regulations. However, the scope of compliance raises questions, particularly for smaller facilities, and the exception for those under 50㎡ remains uncertain.

Specific Functions Mandated by Regulations

Detailed requirements for kiosk functions are outlined in the Enforcement Decree of the ‘Framework Act on Intelligent Information Technology.’ These include features such as supplementing hand or arm movements, reaction time, visual acuity, color discrimination ability, hearing, voice input, cognitive ability, and restricting multiple presses. Ensuring these functions is critical for kiosk providers to meet the regulatory standards.

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Beyond upgrades at the kiosk manufacturer level, medical institutions, including dental clinics, must address provisions for accessibility. This involves securing space for wheelchair access, distinct flooring for the visually impaired, and adherence to regulations, impacting the overall dynamics of medical facilities. Compliance with these regulations is crucial for avoiding disruptions in kiosk sales and distribution.

Industry Implications and Preparation Efforts

The kiosk industry, which has been flourishing, now faces challenges, and companies are working to adapt to the impending regulatory changes. While a grace period exists for terminals installed before January 28, 2024, all kiosks supplied after this date must adhere to the relevant functions. Failure to upgrade kiosks may lead to significant disruptions in sales from next year onwards.

Concerns Among Practitioners

Dental practitioners are closely monitoring the impact of the Anti-Discrimination against Disabled Persons Act on kiosk usage. Some express concerns about potential restrictions and how this might affect dental operations. While practitioners emphasize their commitment to providing appropriate treatment to disabled individuals, the regulatory landscape raises uncertainties about the future use of kiosks in dental clinics.