This paper is aimed at suggestion for an indicator improvement on measuring method and consisting survey items/choices through analytic review. The indicator is prevalence rate of unmet need for healthcare service. Definition of unmet medical(healthcare) needs is state not-taking health care service or no-visiting a clinic/hospital in spite of medical services being needed.
To direct and to reorient healthcare policy， understanding the prevalence rate of unmet medical needs and the significant factors associated with unmet medical needs is as important as analysing medical services utilization.
The prevalence rate indicator of unmet medical needs is calculated annually through ‘The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey’. Reviewing and analyzing the prevalence rate of unmet medical needs， the results is as followings:
It is necessary to revise the survey question and choices for respondent’s experience on unmet medical needs.
And it is necessary to increase the advanced study and the usage of this unmet needs indicator because economic burden is still important reason for the poor to bring to the unmet medical need status.