Korea healthcare

I will start off by saying I am in no way an expert, but I have gathered some interesting info through a couple of experiences. First, I would like to say that birth control is offered over the counter for about 7,000 won. With the current exchange rate it is about 5.50 US. I think this is interesting given the fact that in the US you have to be prescribed birth control. For a country that seems to be downlow about sex they seem to have the best ways of handling it. You want to get down in private love motel, want to not have a baby go to pharmacy and pick up birth control, very easy and simple. Just dont talk about.
Second, I would like to say that the medicine here is 4,000 won and is very easy to get. You go to the pharmacist, if they speak English tell them what you have and they bring you medicine. Done. No long draw out wait at the doctor's office with a 30 dollar co-pay for him to get you a prescription. No waiting room full of sick people that are probably making your situation worst. No a simple transaction.
In the event you do not have and English speaking pharmacist have a Korean friend or co-worker write the symptons down on the paper. They will still try with all thier might to explain how to take and how many times a day.
If all else fails, role play. Koreans like a good game of act it out. I play it with my students all the time.
I would like to say I have not idea what I took. I am not even sure I took the medicine the right way, but I am not sick. I took this silver packet of balls that smelled like incenses. I throught it was tea but the Korean teachers laughted when I got back to the office and put it in a cup. "NO teacher. Just take the balls like pills and drink water. I felt like I licked a stick of incense for a week but I got better.
There really isn't to much damage I could to do to myself with the medicine I took. From what I understand it was herbal and the medicine that was mecidine was in a much lower dosage that we use in the States.
I have to say I like the Korean healthcare system. There is not as much drama as healthcare is in the US.