MOHW to newly establish 'Bureau of Regional·Essential·Public Healthcare'

The Office of the President responds favorably…still requires further coordination with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety

Ko Hyung-woo, Director of the Division of Essential Healthcare "Bureau-level organization must oversee the Regional·Essential·Public Healthcare administration

고형우 국장

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) plans to complete the establishment of the 'Bureau of Regional·Essential·Public Healthcare' within the first half of this year. 

The Office of the President agrees with the necessity of strengthening 'Bureau of Regional·Essential·Public Healthcare,' and the Ministry plans to create a new bureau following consultations with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

On the 2nd, Ko Hyung-woo, Director of the Division of Essential Healthcare at the MOHW, shared these plans during a briefing with the Korea Special Press Association.

Director Ko explained that the new division is still in its early stages and requires further coordination with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

However, he added that discussions are in full swing following the passage of the Regional Essential Healthcare Act in the National Assembly, and that the Office of the President  is responding positively.

Consequently, the Ministry intends to establish the new Division-level organization during the first half of the year to take full charge of the new healthcare policies.

Ko stated, ​"While the 'Bureau of Regional·Essential·Public Healthcare'  will include three distinct bureaus (Regional Healthcare, Essential Healthcare, and Public Healthcare), we will not be creating all new divisions," adding, "Some will be reorganized and recombined from existing structures."

Ko added, "Bureaus that require new establishment, such as those related to national medical schools, will be created. I hope that the workforce will increase under this new Bureau-level structure. The healthcare sector is short-staffed. If sufficient personnel are deployed, the quality of our policies will be significantly higher than it is now."

Regarding the allocation of KRW 1.13 trillion annually for the Regional and Essential Healthcare Special Account, Director Ko said, "If we design our projects well, we can pull budget from other general finances if necessary. Therefore, the KRW 1.13 trillion is not set but it could increase or decrease."

Ko emphasized, "The important part is our decision to proceed with KRW 800 billion for new projects. Typically, projects exceeding KRW 50 billion over five years must undergo a preliminary feasibility study, which takes considerable time and would prevent immediate implementation next year," adding, "Since KRW 800 billion over five years totals KRW 4 trillion, we must apply for an exemption from the preliminary feasibility study for this KRW 4 trillion plan. We are putting efforts into developing the content for this."

Ko further explained, "According to our surveys of local governments, the majority believe that support is essential for childbirth, pediatrics, emergency, and cardiovascular care," adding, "While medical personnel represent the most critical portion of the KRW 800 billion budget, regional doctors will not emerge for another 10 years. Therefore, we are currently considering how to address non-physician medical personnel."