Will the separation of the Ministry of Health be promoted?

interested in the government's reorganization

The transition team reviews the implementation of pledges after collecting opinions from medical and academic circles

The possibility of integration and absorption of the MFDS when the MOHW is separated and reorgan

Professor Kim Eun-joo said, "Separate health functions and strengthen health risk functions of the MFDS"

Yoon Seok-yeol's presidential transition committee seems to be discussing the necessity of separating the Ministry of Health and integrating and absorbing the MFDS in the process of discussing the reorganization of the government after the inauguration of the next government.

 

As the pandemic era became commonplace due to COVID-19, the role of the health sector grew, and the medical community strongly urged the independence of the Ministry of Health and even academia insisted on the necessity of the Ministry of Health.

 

According to Yoon Seok-yeol's transition committee and related academia on the 27th, various discussions are taking place over the next government organization, including the reorganization of the MOHW.

 

Yoon's transition committee receives reports from each government department until the 29th, while keeping in mind the need for independence of the Ministry of Health along with the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.

 

Some say that if the Ministry of Health becomes independent, the MFDS will also inevitably change its organization.

 

With the independence of the Ministry of Health, there is a possibility that the MFDS will be integrated and absorbed as it was an organization under the MOHW in the past.

 

If the Ministry of Health becomes independent from the MOHW, the number of personnel is about 400, and the MFDS should be integrated to strengthen and exist the ministry functions.

 

In addition, the Ministry of Health may divide areas other than the food sector within the MFDS after independence from the Ministry of Health as there is a need to transfer food sector work within the MFDS.

 

The medical community strongly agrees with the independence of the Ministry of Health.

 

The Ministry of Health should be separated to respond to the public health crisis caused by the outbreak of infectious diseases and foster the health care sector.

 

The KMA proposed several government reorganization plans to establish the Ministry of Health and manage the KDCA, the MFDS, and public health centers since Yoon was a presidential candidate.

 

Independence of the Ministry of Health is also emphasizing the necessity of related academia.

 

Kim Eun-joo, a professor of social science at Hansung University, appealed the need for independence from the Ministry of Health at a seminar hosted by the KAOS and the KAPAR21 on the 25th.

 

Professor Kim Eun-joo said, "The MOHW should separate health functions and deploy the KDCA as a member of the Ministry of Health to strengthen the health and safety system based on expertise in the health sector." She said, "We need to establish an effective response system to infectious diseases such as COVID-19.

 

The MFDS should also strengthen its health risk factor management function," she argued.

 

Professor Kim argues that the MOHW should be divided into the Ministry of Health and that KDCA, the ministry in charge of quarantine, should be assigned as a member of the Ministry of Health.

 

Kim Yoon-kwon, a senior researcher at KIPA, also mentioned the establishment of the new Ministry of Health, saying, "We need to redesign welfare and health functions to secure function completeness based on our expertise." The transition committee plans to collect expert opinions on independence of the Ministry of Health, reorganization of the KDCA, and integration of the MFDS.

 

The plan to reorganize the government is expected to be outlined only after the transition committee's business report is completed and before the next government is launched.