[Reporter’s View] What COVID-19 revealed in drug industry

The humanity will ultimately overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

But the problem is what follows next.

 

Scholars around the world talk about the Post-COVID-19.

 

Each of them theorizes their own seemingly realistic ideas of “New Normal.” Among all of their hypotheses, ‘giving science back to the public’ speaks to the heart.

 

At an online forum convened on Apr.

 

28 regarding the Post-COVID-19 and the new normal, Professor Park Sangook of Earth and Environmental Sciences Department at Seoul National University stated, “The science and technology should find their way back to the public in the future.” In fact, it was on the 100th day since the first reported case of COVID-19 in Korea.

 

His diagnosis was unyieldingly honest.

 

He said the science and technology in pharmaceutical and bio sector have advanced remarkably, but they are skewed to specific areas.

 

It is as it is.

 

Quoting his words, regardless of developed countries, global pharmaceutical giants or Korean pharmaceutical and bio industry, no one can deny the fact their R&D was fixated on “profitable sector.” Every one of them was into developing chronic disease treatment and “happy drugs.” The result is what we see today.

 

According to Professor Park Sangook, the humanity is “in a dire situation, where we helplessly face a simple virus generated from the nature.” In their defense, the companies could claim their concentration on profitable business is obviously justifiable with their corporate nature.

 

However, considering the pharmaceutical and bio industry put down their roots in public healthcare, they need to take a look back at themselves even shunning the ‘bare minimum.’ The government’s role is essential in turning the corporations around.

 

To let the companies open their eyes on the public healthcare, the government should pay more attention and provide further support.

 

Motivated by the pandemic, the Korean government seems to be making various promises to provide support for the pharmaceutical companies responding against the threat of the infectious disease.

 

The government means to properly compensate the companies developing treatment and vaccines for the virus.

 

These should not be empty promises for temporary purposes.

 

Not just to spike their stock prices, but the government should show pharmaceutical companies that taking up a challenge for the public interest, despite the risk in failure and loss, would be compensated appropriately.

 

Only when the government takes the right action, science and technology would find their way back to the public.