Since 2013, South Korea’s National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) has been seeking to recover healthcare costs attributable to tobacco use through a landmark lawsuit against KT&G, PMI Korea, and BAT Korea. Despite the significant policy and legal stakes, South Korea still lacks rigorous estimates of the direct medical costs linked to tobacco use.

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Kate Yoo from The World Bank and Prof. Neil Schluger from New York Medical College to understand the current situation of tobacco control in South Korea, including the interesting “Lagged Epidemic” phenomenon, the identified gender disparities, a "Polluter Pays" Framework, and the progress of the ongoing litigation.

"The toll of tobacco: smoking-attributable health spending in South Korea, 2014–2024. National claims evidence for cost recovery" https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/article/PIIS2666-6065(26)00047-7/fulltext

"NHIS vs. Big Tobacco: South Korea’s pursuit of cost recovery through litigation" https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/article/PIIS2666-6065(25)00194-4/fulltext

Male infertility is a major contributor to low birth rates but often receives less attention than female infertility. In this episode, we speak with Dr. David Skerrett-Byrne and Dr. Lee Ashton to discuss determinants of male fertility in the Western Pacific Region.

Click here to read the full article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/article/PIIS2666-6065(25)00255-X/fulltext

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The Asia-Pacific region is experiencing a notable decline in birth rates. Drivers are complex and gaps in knowledge exist. This Series published in The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific aims to explore the factors contributing to the low birth rate in the region. In today’s episode, we will hear from our authors, Dr. Cuilin Zhang and Dr. Wei-Jun Jean Yeung, on women’s health and female fertility, and the social determinants of low birth rate in the Asia-Pacific region.

Click here to read the full articles:

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/article/PIIS2666-6065(25)00249-4/fulltext

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/article/PIIS2666-6065(25)00263-9/fulltext

Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.social/ https://instagram.com/thelancetgroup https://facebook.com/thelancetmedicaljournal https://linkedIn.com/company/the-lancet https://youtube.com/thelancettv