Gov't rolls up sleeves to fight dementia

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- The government will take a more active role in treating dementia once a related law goes into force early next year, the welfare ministry said Wednesday, in an effort to help the increasing number of patients suffering from the condition.
The dementia management act, aimed at helping elderly people suffering from dementia and their families, is set to be proclaimed Thursday and take effect in February next year, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said.
The number of senior citizens suffering from dementia in South Korea rose quickly from 421,000 in 2008 to 495,000 as of August this year amid concerns that the country is becoming an aged society.
The law calls for the government to set up a national commission on dementia management and create a basic plan for the condition's management once every five years.
The government will support medical research conducted for the prevention, treatment and control of dementia and provide senior citizens check-ups and hospital treatment for the condition, according to the ministry. The government also plans to maintain official tallies of dementia patients.
Also under the law, the government will designate in the first half of next year one general hospital as the Central Dementia Center. That facility will take on the task of drawing up research plans, conducting related training and education as well as treating dementia patients, the ministry said.
Seoul expects the number of patients to rise to 750,000 in 2020, then top the 1 million break in 2030 and reach 2.12 million by 2050.