South Korean health insurer loses appeal against tobacco companies

The case brought by the South Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) sought to hold tobacco companies "socially accountable for the harms caused by smoking". It also aimed to "prevent leakage in the national health insurance finances while promoting public health", the NHIS said. The suit targeted the country's three largest tobacco firms, including giants British American Tobacco and Philip Morris Korea, and was valued at 53.3 billion won ($36.2 million). It covers 3,465 patients who...