MOHW to consider HIPDC meeting after stabilizing outbreak

MOHW has already allocated 40% human resources into infectious disease response

Can’t guarantee normalization of policy execution

Yoon Tae-ho, Overall Officer of Disinfection (Director of Public Health Policy Bureau at MOHW) at Central Disaster Management Headquarters, is giving a regular online COVID-19 briefing at the Government Complex.

 

The Korean government has announced major vis-à-vis meetings like Health Insurance Policy Deliberation Committee (HIPDC) would be scheduled after the COVID-19 outbreak is better contained.

 

Although international experts view the COVID-19 curve in Korea has been bent, the government has not halted its effort to control the outbreak in fear of seasonal variables.

 

Yoon Tae-ho, Overall Officer of Disinfection (Director of Public Health Policy Bureau at Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW)) at Central Disaster Management Headquarters, answered media’s questions after convening a video conference for the COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) on Apr.

 

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Officer Yoon said, “The government is prioritizing the order of healthcare policy execution as simultaneous execution is unfeasible at the moment,” and he explained the biggest reason is the ministry’s human resources preoccupied by the infectious disease control.

 

According to the health ministry official, approximately 40 percent of the ministry officers are responding against COVID-19 outbreak.

 

And with the officers working from home, normalizing policy execution was impossible for months.

 

Sources predict the rescheduling of HIPDC meeting would be considered after the government makes an official announcement of stabilized COVID-19 outbreak state and alleviating social distancing.

 

Officer Yoon supported the prediction by stating “The vis-à-vis HIPDC meeting would be rescheduled only after the situation is considered contained.” Regarding the prioritized order of policies, the officer explained “The ministry would prioritize policies closely related to healthcare institute operation and the people’s daily life as operating MOHW, human resource and the Central Disaster Management Headquarters would center on social distancing.” However, the officer also stressed COVID-19 policies does not only respond against the outbreak, but also affect the safe use of healthcare institute for general patients, because they are naturally related to safe medical practice policies, such as healthcare institute policy and support plan, emergency room support and designation of tertiary hospital.