“Will dvlp blockbusters and systemize non-F2F treatment”

"Will localize essential vaccines and invest KRW 3.8 trillion in the pharma industry"

MOHW announces major task plans for the New Year

The government will reinforce R&D support in the pharmaceutical industry to develop 2 new global blockbuster drugs by 2027, by increasing public-private investments and expanding customized policy support.

 

The government also selected the institutionalization of non-face-to-face treatment and increasing the admissions quota of medical schools as key policies required to reinforce essential healthcare, and expressed its will to promote the policies promptly through the operation of a permanent consultative body.

 

On the 9th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced the above as part of its 2023 major task plan.

 

◆Full-fledged support to fostering the biohealth industry and exports=The MOHW will be preparing measures to train 110,000 manufacturing and research personnel by 2027 and lay the foundation for fostering the biohealth industry.

 

Also, through the operation of the WHO training hub for mid to low-income countries, the authorities promote partnerships between vaccine and raw material companies in Korea and abroad to support overseas expansions of Korean companies.

 

It will also promote a pre-entry/post-evaluation system through an integrated review system for innovative medical devices and extending deferment period for new health technology assessments, etc., and promote the expansion and commercialization of treatment opportunities for advanced regenerative medicine Also, a pan-ministerial governance body called the ‘Pharma-Bio Innovation Committee’ will be organized to provide efficient and borderless support ranging from basic R&D to commercialization.

 

Biohealth exports will also be strategically supported.

 

In Korea, biohealth exports have been growing 19.5% on average annually from USD 12.5 billion in 2017 to USD 25.4 billion in 2021.

 

The Comprehensive Plan for Healthcare Exports contains measures to support the creation of 2 global blockbuster new drugs by 2027 and systematic measures for Korea to achieve the 5th place in medical device exports.

 

To this end, a plan for the pharma-bio industry and the medical device industry will be established by January next year.

 

More specifically, the authorities will public-private investments and reinforce customized support.

 

This year, it will expand R&D by investing KRW 3.8 trillion in the pharmaceutical industry and KRW 1.6 trillion in the medical device industry.

 

At the same time, the government will invest in the K-Bio vaccine fund in earnest and create an additional fund worth KRW 1 trillion by 2025.

 

In line with the movement to strengthen licensing and regulations in major countries, the government will actively respond to protect Korea’s industry and implement strategic support by industry and region to develop new markets.

 

◆Strengthening welfare for the weak and essential healthcare= The MOHW will also operate a permanent consultative body to promptly implement policies including the systemization of non-face-to-face treatment and increasing the admissions quota of medical schools.

 

In the mid-to-long term, the MOHW will present a comprehensive healthcare vision in consideration of its relation and consistency with various other policies, such as the reform of the healthcare delivery system.

 

The healthcare development plan will be prepared by the second half of this year.

 

Specifically, in order to expand essential healthcare, which was a topic of focus last year, the first stage will be to establish a reinforced system for severe, urgent, childbirth, and pediatric treatments.

 

Also, the pediatric treatment support plan will further be supplemented by reflecting opinions from public hearings.

 

In the second stage, MOHW will provide support for essential healthcare, in areas that have difficulty providing proper treatment due to lacking medical environment or a lack of professional manpower.

 

In order to resolve the imbalance between regions and areas of treatments that remain, compensation in fields that lack supply will be strengthened, and public policy fees such as regional fees will continue to be developed.

 

Also, eligibility for catastrophic medical expenses will be lowered, the amount raised, and applicable diseases expanded.

 

◆ Establishing health security and driving entry to new markets with advanced technology = The MOHW will also prepare for the rise of future pandemics and rare diseases by investing in new technologies in the bio sector.

 

To prepare for infectious diseases, the government will localize essential vaccines that are import-dependent and also develop next-generation vaccines and treatments.

 

By 2029, the MOHW will support KRW 215.1 billion to localize essential vaccines, support KRW 21 billion for the development of mRNA vaccines, and KRW 46.4 billion for the development of antivirals.

 

To advance technology for disease control, prevention, and medical safety, the MOHW will invest KRW 85.7 billion by 2027, and KRW 28.8 billion by 2027 with the goal of developing non-face-to-face treatment technology for use in future pandemics.

 

Also, it will prepare a 'Korean ARPA-H' that supports target-oriented strategic R&D tasks such as technologies for treating rare diseases to its success.

 

In order to prepare for the transformation into a digital and data-oriented medical paradigm, the MOHW will develop the MyData service model as well as pioneer models for digital transformation such as smart hospitals, while operating transformation expansion support centers to provide customized support for the smartization of public-private hospitals.