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- 2026-05-17 11:18:11
- InterView
- There shouldn't be any patients who can't receive new drugs
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Jan 05, 2022 05:59am
- Global pharmaceutical companies, which can be said to be the mainstay of the supply of new drugs. The KRPIA, which represents these companies, is also raising expectations in 2022. Multinational pharmaceutical companies' attention is more focused on the "appropriate value of new drugs" than ever before. With the advent of the so-called "high-priced drug era," it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a point of contact between the government and the pharmaceutical industry. There are still many discussions and suggestions regarding the drug price system, such as expanding the scope of application of the PE system, introducing pre-registration & post-evaluation, and adding drugs subject to negotiation and calculation. Dailypharm met with Lee Young-shin (64 yrs old), a full-time vice chairman of KRPIA, and heard about KRPIA's future plans for a period of expectation and transformation. -The regime will change in 2022. What is there to ask for a new government? Vice Chairman Lee Youngshin = In the new government, it is hoped that patients will not be able to receive treatment or health insurance coverage for severe disease treatments due to low income. In other words, it is expected that policies will be prepared and implemented so that there are no patients who are alienated and discriminated against from necessary treatments due to income and disease. The government is expanding its role as a global leader and has announced several plans to become a biopharmaceutical industry powerhouse. This seems to have originated from the belief that economic scale, public awareness, and potential technology have aspects of advanced countries. In order to become a biopharmaceutical powerhouse, one must not stay in "vaccine sovereignty" but have "new drug sovereignty," and sovereignty is being created. From a global perspective, Eco-systems and infrastructure in the pharmaceutical industry should be established, and open innovation should be established with an open mind. - What is the current issue or vision that the KRPIA wants to focus on the most this year? = In the new year, the KRPIA will also make efforts to help the pharmaceutical bio-industry take responsibility for public health and contribute to economic development. First of all, new drugs with new therapeutic paradigms such as state-of-the-art biopharmaceuticals are being released. We will actively participate in the improvement of policies and systems related to drugs and new drugs that allow domestic patients to access quickly, and promote the improvement of patients' access to new drugs as a top priority. - Then, what do you think was the biggest achievement of the KRPIA last year? = In the face of COVID-19 Pandemic, which is suffering worldwide, it was rewarding to secure the stability of the supply of imported medicines as a measure for the health rights of the people. The expected issues were identified in advance, discussions with regulators, and alternatives were presented, and continued to cooperate. As a result, it was able to receive active government support, such as replacing document screening of overseas surveys, utilizing online due diligence, allowing electronic documents, and activating counseling through video conferences, and stably supplying medicines without major problems. It is also proud that the COVID-19 vaccine developed by our member company contributed to the quarantine. What was the most regrettable issue as an association last year? = Last year, there was great progress and improvement in the regulatory environment to quickly develop and introduce COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, and we appreciate the government's efforts to do so. It is necessary for the government and industry to proactively prepare and discuss after post-Corona to prepare for the introduction of products due to the development of new technologies, patient access to new treatments, and electronic product manuals that can quickly provide the latest drug information. I hope there will be a lot of progress this year, and the association will continue to make efforts. - When talking about the contribution of multinational pharmaceutical companies to Korea, it is true that the investment of research funds in Korea was focused on phase 3 research. Is there a plan for basic research support? = According to the results of the annual R&D survey conducted by the Association on member companies, the growth rate of phase 1 and phase 2 corresponding to the initial clinical trial has recently increased significantly compared to the growth rate of phase 3. I know that many member companies are actively cooperating in various forms with domestic research institutes, schools, and bio-ventures to support basic research. However, since basic research is in the very early stages of research and development, the contents and progress cannot be disclosed.
- Opinion
- [Reporter’s View]Year of regulations, principle vs practice
- by Kim, Jin-Gu Jan 05, 2022 05:57am
- As in every other year, regulations imposed on the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry are again expected to be further reinforced this year. In particular, GMP-related regulations will be strengthened even further. Starting this month, the government may impose punitive fines on the arbitrary manufacture of pharmaceuticals by companies. In addition, the government and the National Assembly are pushing to amend the law so that an assigned GMP investigator could conduct on-site investigations on drug manufacturing plants. Also, a bill to revise the law to allow business suspension dispositions up to one year and license revocations in case of GMP violations is pending at the National Assembly. Some may complain that such excessive regulations hinder the development of the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry. However, the regulations did not appear out of nowhere. There were always events that triggered the tightening of regulations. The GMP regulations were reinforced due to the series of arbitrary manufacturing events that occurred last year. The arbitrary manufacturing of pharmaceuticals that were once considered rare incidents conducted by one or two companies was identified in several companies last year. The industry thus lost the public’s trust. In depth, the ruling may indeed have felt unfair for some pharmaceutical companies. However, their protests failed to gain public sympathy as their argument, in essence, is an excuse that they did not follow the 'principle' in the name of customs and practice. And this is not an issue that just arose last year. The license of Kolon’s ‘Invossa’ was canceled in 2018, Medytox’s botulinum toxin in 2019 because they were found to have manufactured their product differently from their approved specifications. This would not have happened if the companies stuck to the basic principles. This new year, the industry should look back on itself. Companies should look back and examine whether they have chosen practice rather than principle in other areas of their business as well. If so, they must remedy their ways immediately as these small incidents are what intensify to become serious issues. The MFDS should also review its ways to become an institution that is faithful to principles. This does not mean that the ministry should adhere to principles on every issue that arises. Punishing pharmaceutical companies based on pure principle is not a fundamental solution. If deviations of front-line pharmaceutical companies have become a practice, the ministry should more deeply look into the background on why it became so. As the regulatory authority, the MFDS’s role is to establish principles in the direction that can protect the public’s health and further develop the industry. In other words, if the regulations are causing the issue, it is the MFDS’ role to establish “new principles.”
- Company
- Exports of the biohealth industry surpassed 19 trillion won
- by Jan 05, 2022 05:57am
- Exports of the domestic biohealth industry hit a record high last year due to soaring demand for biosimilars, COVID-19 diagnostic kits and medical devices. Exports in related sectors reached $16.2 billion last year, exceeding $15 billion for the first time. It is expected that strong performance will continue this year due to the release of new biosimilars and the export of Omicron diagnostic kits. According to Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on the 3rd, domestic biohealth exports amounted to $16.2 billion last year, up 16.9% from $13.9 billion the previous year. It surpassed $10 billion for the first time in 2020, followed by $15 billion last year. In December last year, it showed an upward trend, recording $1.9 billion in monthly exports (2.2619 trillion won) for the first time in history. The biohealth sector has become one of top 15 major export engines as exports have increased for 23 consecutive years. Biohealth exports increased 2.2 times over the past five years from $7.5 billion in 2017. This is due to the fact that domestic biosimilars are on a roll in global markets such as the European Union (EU), and exports of medical devices such as ultrasound imaging devices and dental implants have steadily increased. In particular, biohealth exports amid the epidemic of infectious diseases shone as global demand for domestic COVID-19 diagnostic kits increased. By country, exports to the EU region rose 9% year-on-year to $4.8 billion. Exports to the U.S. rose 22.9% to $2.1 billion, while ASEAN rose 92.8% to $1.9 billion. In addition, Japan's biohealth exports are insignificant, but they have been increasing for the past nine consecutive months due to the demand for medicines and medical devices caused by the spread of COVID-19 mutations. Expectations are high that biohealth exports will continue to be strong this year. Due to the spread of Omicron mutations, the demand for domestic diagnostic kits that can diagnose Omicron infection in a short period of time is increasing. Domestic diagnostic device companies such as Seegene, Bioneer, and Kogen Biotech have released diagnostic kits that can determine Omicron mutations within 3-4 hours, respectively. Last month, Seegene signed an export contract to supply 2.8 million and 1.7 million new kits to five European countries and Israel, respectively. Exports of domestic diagnostic kits are expected to increase once again as the number of COVID-19 confirmed patients around the world is soaring again with Omicron. Domestic biosimilars will be released in the global market with the approval of new products. In August and September last year, Samsung Bioepis received product permits for Lucentis' first biosimilar Byooviz in the EU and the United States, respectively. Celltrion's Yuflyma, Humira's biosimilar, is expected to expand its European market and enter North America.
- Policy
- Combination drugs of PPI+ antacid have also been released
- by Lee, Tak-Sun Jan 05, 2022 05:57am
- In the anti- ulcer drug market, combination drugs of PPI+ antacids have been released. This time, it is a drug that combines Rabeprazole and sodium bicarbonate. The PPI+ antacids, which started with Chong Kun Dang's Eso Duo (Esomeprazole Magnesium Trihydrate+Sodium Bicarbonate), continues to develop new products. The MFDS approved Youngjin Pharmaceutical's Rabenew, Ildong Pharmaceutical's Rabietduo, Dongwha's Rabeduet, Samjin's Rabeol Duo, Whanin's Rabemore, and Dong-A ST Rabiduo on the 31st. These products are combination drugs that combine the PPI formulation Rabeprazole Sodium and the antacids Sodium Bicarbonate. Youngjin is in charge of all production. The new combination drugs are used fir ▲ gastric ulcer/duodenal ulcer, ▲ erosive or ulcerative GERD, ▲ relieving symptoms of GERD, and ▲ for long-term maintenance therapy for GERD, and can be taken once a day. The usage is similar to the existing Rabeprazole only indication. However, the use of PPI+ antacids in the prescription market is expected to change as they complement the side effects of night acid secretion and late drug effects, which are disadvantages of PPI single drugs that are weak against stomach acid. It is already the third time this year that combination of PPI+ antacid has been used. Yuhan Corporation, GC Pharma, and Kyung Dong were approved in February, and Hanmi Pharmaceutical in October. This is the first drug that combines Rabeprazole and antacids. Analysts say that the successive development of new PPI+ antacid products is due to the popularity of Chong Kun Dang's "Eso Duo," which was launched in 2018. As soon as Eso Duo was released, it grew into a blockbuster worth 10 billion won a year, recording 7.8 billion won in outpatient prescriptions based on UBIST in the first half of this year. The new product is expected to further strengthen Ildong Pharmaceutical's market competitiveness. Ildong has the number one generic called Rabiet in the single Rabeprazole market. This is because it recently decided to start selling co-promotion of Nexium, the original PPI sales top. Competition in the anti- ulcer drug market is expected to heat up next year as Daewoong Pharmaceutical is releasing new products such as Fexuclue (Fexuprazan HCl), a new P-CAB drug, on the 30th.
- Company
- Only 14% of Pharmas plan to increase jobs due to COVID-19
- by Chon, Seung-Hyun Jan 04, 2022 05:56am
- The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic is expected to bring personnel reshuffling changes to the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry. CEOs in the pharma industry said that they plan to maintain or reduce the size of new employments in their companies. In addition, 7 out of 10 CEOs predicted that while the companies will maintain the number of jobs, they expect reshuffling to occur within. According to a business strategy survey conducted by Dailypharm on 51 CEOs from pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies, only 13.7% (7) of the CEOs who participated in the survey said they plan to expand the number of new employments this year compared to the previous year. 9.8% (5) responded that they will reduce the number of new employments, and 76.5% (39) said they will maintain the size as is. In other words, 86.3% of the companies will not be expanding the number of new employments this year. Such a trend, where only a few companies decided to scale up new employment, is quite unusual in this industry with the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry making strong growth every year. This reluctance was evident in the industry in general, regardless of company size. Only 4 of the 32 CEOs (12.5%) of companies with more than 300 employees had responded that they will increase new employment this year. Among companies with less than 300 employees, only 3 out of the 19 companies (15.8%) expected to increase new employment this year. 78.1% and 73.7% of the CEOs in companies with 300 or more employees and 300 employees or less said they will be hiring at a similar level as the previous year. The companies had not increased hiring last year as well. 70.6% (21) CEOs said that they had hired at the same level last year as that of the previous year. 13.7% of the respondents said that they reduced the size of the recruitment compared to the previous year. Survey results showed that many CEOs are expecting the COVID-19 pandemic to bring personnel reshuffling within their companies. On the question asking about the changes in jobs due to changes incurred by the current COVID-19 environment, 68.7% (35) of Pharma CEOs said that “there will be no big change in the total amount of jobs, but there may be changes depending on job function, etc." 17.6% of the CEOs answered that ‘there will be no change’ and only 11.8% (6 people) answered that "there will be more jobs" in their respective companies. Only one CEO predicted job loss. On the other hand, 25.5% of the CEOs expected online security or IT jobs to increase. The expansion of non-face-to-face business such as online video conferencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to increase the attempts to establish and reorganize the system. Also, 25.5% of the CEOs expected jobs in approval and drug pricing to increase, and 15.7% expected jobs in sales and marketing to increase. On the other hand, 82.4% of the respondents said “no specific jobs in a certain area will decrease.”
- Policy
- Recovery Action held by the Legislation/Judiciary Committee
- by Lee, Jeong-Hwan Jan 04, 2022 05:56am
- The recovery system of drug prices bill, which drew attention from the government and domestic and foreign pharmaceutical companies, has been held by the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee and is in trouble to deal with it. As it was excluded from the Legislation and Judiciary Committee agenda again during the extraordinary National Assembly in December last year, even the screening committee failed to rise, and there are concerns that it will not be passed even if it is barely introduced this year. The second subcommittee of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, which is in charge of reviewing other standing committees' resolutions, tends to be rarely reviewed once handed over, so it is often called the "black hole in the bill" and the "tomb of the bill." On the 3rd, the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee did not review the alternative of the chairman of the National Health Insurance Act on the resolution at a plenary session held within last year's extraordinary session. Some pharmaceutical and legal circles are strongly opposed to the review and processing of bills on the redemption and refund of drug prices, which reportedly affected the unknown agenda of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. Some say that it will not be easy to deal with even if a plenary session of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee is held at the extraordinary National Assembly to be held in the new year and a revision to the Health Insurance Act, which includes a bill to return and refund drug prices, is on the agenda. It could be held by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee if some members of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee hold the bill at the plenary session or hand it over to a second subcommittee that examines other standing committee bills.If it is handed over to the second subcommittee on bills, it is not clear whether it will be able to obtain a proper opportunity for examination until the end of its 21st term in the National Assembly. The government and the ruling party plan to continue to urge the opposition party and the judiciary committee to review the agenda ahead of the need for a bill to recover and refund drug prices. The MOHW is expected to push ahead with the introduction of a refund system as planned through the revision of the health insurance care benefit rules and related notices reported to the Health Insurance Policy Deliberation Committee late last year. An official from the ruling party of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee said, "The Pharmaceutical Affairs Committee and the opposition party are boycotting the agenda, even though the Restitution and Refund Act is a bill that settles and compensates for unnecessary damage to both pharmaceutical companies and the NHIS. Because of this, bills such as regulations on office managers' illegal hospitals, illegal pharmacies lending licenses, and mandatory identification of patient health insurance are also delayed." The official said, "The ruling party plans to select the revision of the health insurance law as an intensive promotion bill and continue to urge it to be processed. I understand that the MOHW is also repeatedly appealing to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee to pass the bill."
- Policy
- President Moon "will make all efforts to return to normalcy"
- by Lee, Jeong-Hwan Jan 04, 2022 05:56am
- During his 2022 New Year’s address, President Moon Jae-in expressed his gratitude and respect to the medical professionals and personnel working to contain and prevent COVID-19 and restressed the excellence of Korea’s disease control and prevention system. The president also expressed his ambition to achieve complete recovery of the peoples’ lives by strengthening epidemic prevention and control in the new year. While delivering his New Year’s address at Cheong Wa Dae on the 3rd, President Moon Jae-In said,” Korea’s response to the virus has risen to prominence on its merit amid the global fight against COVID-19." “During the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government and the people have come together as one to surmount crises. We have turned those crises into opportunities while demonstrating once again the potential of the crisis-resilient Republic of Korea. This achievement has been made possible by combining the efforts of the Government, the dedication of medical professionals, and our people’s strong sense of solidarity.” President Moon said, "We stand again on the starting line of a New Year. I wish everyone a happy New Year and a year to make yet another leap forward, inspired by the tiger’s vigorous energy. Even at this moment, our anti-epidemic workers and medical professionals are struggling in freezing temperatures. Once more, I extend my profound respect and gratitude to them.” President Moon emphasized that moving toward normal daily routines while strengthening epidemic prevention and control is the starting point for a full recovery and that the country's anti-epidemic measures have begun to take effect. He expected that as the number of confirmed cases will continue to decrease, the number of severely or critically ill patients will also decline soon. However still, the president expressed concerns over the rise of COVID-19 cases due to the spread of the Omicron variant. The president is determined to make all-out efforts to overcome the COVID-19 crisis that arose from the variant and achieve complete recovery in the people's lives. President Moon said, “The administering of booster shots and the inoculation of adolescents are also picking up speed, and a great number of hospital beds and medical professionals are being secured. Starting this month, pills for oral COVID-19 treatment will be dispensed. However, it is too early to let our guard down as the number of newly confirmed cases is breaking records around the world due to the Omicron variant." “We will work intensively to overcome this crisis. With a long-term perspective, the government will nourish hope for a return to normal life by riding out the difficulties along with the people in a steady manner. It is truly regrettable that our people are facing growing hardships in their livelihoods with tightened anti-epidemic measures being extended and a return to normalcy being delayed. I’d like to give special words of comfort to the microbusiness owners.” While mentioning the upcoming presidential election in March, the president expressed wishes for the election to become an election of unity that embodies the hope of the people, instead of hostility, hatred, and division. President Moon said, “With the presidential election up ahead, I hope that the election will become a celebration of democracy in which a candidate is chosen by the people through fierce competition, for the sake of people’s lives and the country’s future. Our people are the master of politics, and their participation is what advances democracy and raises the level of politics.” He added, “As an administration devoted to overcoming the crises and pioneering the future, my administration will work at full capacity for the remaining four months.”
- Company
- 2/3 of CEOs plan to continue 'contactless' business activity
- by Kim, Jin-Gu Jan 04, 2022 05:56am
- Three years into the COVID-19 pandemic, 3 out of 4 CEOs from pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies expect their company’s non-face-to-face business activities to expand further this year. The CEOs have also announced plans to maintain or reinforce their non-face-to-face business activities that settled as the ‘new normal’ in the industry over the past two years. ◆Non-face-to-face activities as the ‘new normal’… 75% of CEOs say such activities will “expand further this year" According to a business strategy survey conducted by Dailypharm on 51 CEOs from pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies, 75%(38) of the responders predicted that the prolonged COVID-19 crisis will accelerate change in the work of the overall pharmaceutical industry. Due to the prolonged COVID-19 crisis, non-face-to-face activities have become the new normal in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry. CEOs of each company had to make face-to-face and non-face-to-face decisions depending on the severity of the situation. Although there had been discord in the earlier phases of the outbreak, telecommuting and videoconferencing settled into the natural landscape in the prolonged pandemic. This is in line with the second-most amount of CEOs (35·71%) responding that ‘restructuring sales and marketing strategies’ would be most affected this year due to the prolonged COVId-19. Analysts say that the non-face-to-face sales and marketing activities have somewhat settled in the industry during the past two years. ◆66% of CEOs "plan to maintain and expand non-face-to-face activity post-COVID-19 pandemic" Also, the CEOs said they will maintain or expand the current non-face-to-face activities after the end of the pandemic. 66% of the respondents (33 of 50, 1 non-respondent) said they will maintain or reinforce the rate of non-face-to-face work. These responses were consistent across all occupations. 11 of 50 CEOs (22%) responded that they will maintain telecommuting and an agile working system after the COVID-19 pandemic for desk jobs. Twenty-two (44%) responded that they will partly maintain the telecommuting and agile working system for desk jobs. The situation was the same for sales and marketing jobs. 40% of the responders (20 CEOs) answered that they will maintain the proportion of non-face-to-face sales and marketing activities at the current level, and 26% (13) answers that they will rather expand the proportion of non-face-to-face sales and marketing activities post-COVID-19 pandemic. Some Korean subsidiaries of global pharmaceutical companies have officially announced that they will maintain their current non-face-to-face business activities even after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pfizer Korea, Viatris Korea, Novartis Korea, Amgen Korea, among others have made the decision according to the policies of their respective global headquarters. Other Korean subsidiaries of global pharmaceutical companies and some Korean pharmaceutical companies have also joined in the act. ◆ Majority of responders see “Non-face-to-face sales and marketing activities negatively influenced performance” However, on how the non-face-to-face work had affected business in general, the CEOs provided mixed reviews on the performance of internal vs. sales/marketing positions. In general, the CEOs positively evaluated the non-face-to-face work performance of internal positions, but more responders negatively evaluate the non-face-to-face work performance of sales and marketing positions. Among the CEOs that participated in the survey, 17 (33%) believed the non-face-to-face business activity of internal employees was positive, and 14 (27%) said there was no significant difference. In other words, over half of the leaders determined that the non-face-to-face work of internal employees was positive or no different than before. Among others, 11 (22%) responded that it had a negative effect, and 9 (18%) said it was difficult to determine its effect on performance. On the other hand, the majority of the CEOs had given negative evaluations to non-face-to-face work of sales and marketing positions. 27 out of 51 (53%) evaluated that non-face-to-face work in sales and marketing had a negative impact. However still, many CEOs have expressed that they plan to maintain or expand the proportion of non-face-to-face sales and marketing activities. It is analyzed that this is because new sales and marketing methods using mobile and online routes have settled as the new normal in the pharmaceutical industry.
- Policy
- Minister Kwon said he would develop vaccines and txs
- by Kim, Jung-Ju Jan 04, 2022 05:55am
- Minister of Health and Welfare said he will foster the biohealth industry by investing in building a global bio-human resource training hub, developing vaccines and treatments, creating a "K-Global" vaccine fund and revitalizing the use of domestic medical devices in 2022. Minister Kwon issued a New Year's address today (31st) and explained tasks and directions such as responding to the current COVID-19 crisis, developing and fostering the health industry, establishing a medical system, and strengthening health insurance coverage. First of all, the government's budget for next year has been confirmed to be 607.7 trillion won, of which the budget is set at 97.4767 trillion won. It accounts for the largest portion of the government's budget at 16%. Minister Kwon said, "Next year, we will do our best to overcome the COVID-19 crisis by actively investing our budget in preemptive securing of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, securing treatment beds for severely ill patients, and supporting COVID-19 depression." Regarding the pharmaceutical bio-industry, he also explained that he plans to foster the bio-health industry by investing in building a global bio-human resource training hub, developing vaccines and treatments, creating a K-global vaccine fund, and activating the use of domestic medical devices. Minister Kwon said, "The MOHW will always think about whether even a single policy can change the lives of the people and contribute to the happiness of the people, and work while finding answers and communicating on the spot." He said, "As it is Year of the Black Tiger, I look forward to starting the year vigorously with the spirit of Black Tiger and overcoming the COVID-19 crisis."
- Policy
- Additional contracts for COVID-19 PO tx are under discussion
- by Kim, Jung-Ju Jan 04, 2022 05:55am
- The government is pushing for additional purchases of oral COVID-19 treatments separately from existing contracts.The KDCA announced its 2022 work plan today (30th) under the theme of "COVID-19 Disease Control and Prevention Response and National Health Support." Authorities plan to strengthen severe prevention by introducing oral treatments next year. It plans to expand the target institutions for domestic antibody treatment and operate a rapid supply system to reduce the transition of mild patients to severe diseases. It will also actively introduce oral treatments to supply them to home treatment patients and hospitalized patients dedicated to infectious diseases, reduce hospitalization or death of patients, and maintain a medical and quarantine system. Currently, authorities are pushing for a pre-purchase contract for 1 million and have signed a contract for 604,000 people so far. Authorities said they are discussing additional purchase contracts separately from the existing contract volume for the spread of Omicron and a soft landing of daily recovery, and will sign the contract in early January next year and disclose it to the public. ◆ By strengthening daily disease prevention and management= the KDCA operates a visiting tuberculosis screening and regular screening center, and strengthens support for tuberculosis patients in vulnerable groups through integrated health and welfare services. In addition, genital infections caused by HPV, the main cause of cervical cancer, can be prevented by vaccinating more than 90%, but it will be actively supported by expanding the free support for HPV vaccinations due to expensive vaccination costs. The target, which was limited to 12-year-old girls this year, will be expanded from next year to girls aged 13 to 17, basic livelihood recipients aged 18 to 26 from 2018 to 2026, and women in the second-highest class.The government will continue to promote the prevention and management of non-infectious diseases by expanding the scope of registration management of hypertension and diabetes and medical expenses to rare diseases. The results of the first climate health impact assessment will be announced in the first half of next year after evaluating the impact of climate change on people's health, and based on this, a disease management policy will be established to prepare for climate change. In preparation for future public health threats, the government will provide all-out support to advance the national quarantine system = commercialization of COVID-19 vaccine in Korea, and strengthen its full-cycle investment in R&D to secure various technologies such as new technology platform vaccines (mRNA). The KDCA expands core technology development, non-clinical research, and establishes a regular cooperative system for clinical research to strengthen its capability to develop new strain virus treatments such as COVID-19. International cooperation will be strengthened through cooperation in sharing information and substances on infectious diseases through participation in WHO new hubs and expansion of ASEAN infectious diseases and technological cooperation. In order to respond quickly and effectively to new infectious diseases such as COVID-19, related systems such as infectious disease systems and quarantine systems will be efficiently integrated to establish an integrated quarantine information system. It plans to systematically collect and manage information related to COVID-19 (confirmed patients, vaccinations, adverse reactions, etc.) and promote policies to respond to infectious diseases based on scientific evidence.
