“NA should stop loosening new drug regulation”

Free Healthcare Campaign Center urges the NA to tend health policies for general election

“Urgently need public health and HR infrastructure, public pharmaceutical company should make vaccine”

Prior to the upcoming general election, health related civic groups are voicing out to the National Assembly (NA) about their disapproval on over-the-counter (OTC) drug sold outside of pharmacy and profit-making pharmacy.

 

The groups urged the lawmakers to establish public pharmaceutical company, learning from COVID-19 outbreak, and stop alleviating pharmaceutical regulations, and also to reinforce public infrastructure of healthcare human resources by expanding the share of public healthcare institutes up to 30 percent.

 

On Mar.

 

24, the Free Healthcare Campaign Center convened a press conference in front of the NA to demand public health expansion policies for the general election.

 

The Campaign Center has reprehended the ruling and opposition parties for not setting forth policies regarding new infectious disease responding public health improvement and financial support to overcome life-threatening disaster when COVID-19 is spreading and April general election is approaching.

 

The organization pointed out that most of political parties are neglecting the voters’ needs when the election is to be held amid the global catastrophe.

 

Specifically, the organization demanded the NA to secure the share of public healthcare institute at least up to 30 percent to protect the lives of the people from highly detrimental infectious disease like COVID-19.

 

The Campaign Center official stated, “As a start, the NA should open public healthcare clinics in Daejeon, Gwangju, Ulsan and Western Gyeongnam Provicne, buyout Cheongdo Dae Nam Hospital and Busan Wallace Memorial Baptist Hospital and make Daegu Dongsan Hospital public.” “Although a political party claims infectious disease specializing hospitals should be opened, the special hospital would eventually follow the footsteps of Ajou University Hospital Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Division,” the official added.

 

The officials explained the government should hire doctors and nurses as public health infrastructure for the public healthcare institutes.

 

And the organization appealed the necessity of mandatory service of medical professionals at public healthcare institutes by passing a bill on establishing public medical school.

 

The Campaign Center demanded for a financial support, such as sickness benefit, and temporarily lessened medical expense in case of disaster.

 

The organization argues Korea should also implement the sickness benefit policy as most of OECD member countries provide income security when treated from public health insurance.

 

They explained it would provide more practical support if paid leaves are given institutionally and layoff is banned during COVID-19, like in other countries Moreover, the officials demanded the government to significantly reduce copayment rate to allow the people to use medical care sufficiently, despite economic recession and income cut.

 

More specifically, the Campaign Center demanded for public pharmaceutical company.

 

COVID-19 vaccine has unclear prospects in profit making and return on investment.

 

And a public pharmaceutical company should take over the job as private companies are reluctant about the vaccine production.

 

The officials also stressed again the government should stop alleviating pharmaceutical regulations, such as the Cutting-edge Regenerative Medicine Act.

 

The official urged, “Even the distribution of over-the-counter and essential drugs would struggle as pharmaceutical exports are restricted due to the outbreak,” and “to stabilize production of essential drugs crucial to public health management, public pharmaceutical company is necessary.” “While incidents like fake drug Invossa is happening, the NA has passed the Cutting-edge Regenerative Medicine Act that loosens safety regulations on genetic treatment and stem cell treatments.

 

It is a law that approves drugs so easily, regardless of clinical trial process.

 

And OTC sales should not be allowed outside of pharmacy and legislating profit-making pharmacy should be dropped,” the official added.