Amid signs of a prolonged Middle East conflict, the South Korean government has decided to prioritize addressing healthcare issues, particularly the supply of pharmaceuticals, as part of its livelihood welfare initiatives.
On Tuesday, South Korea’s Department of Health and Human Services held its first inter-agency review meeting for the Emergency Economic Response Livelihood and Welfare Team, chaired by Secretary Jeong Eng Kyeong. The meeting focused on key action plans from various departments in preparation for an extended conflict in the Middle East.
The Livelihood and Welfare Team, a component of the emergency economic response system, includes representatives from the Department of Labor, Department of Education, Department of Gender Equality and Family, and the Food and Drug Administration.
The Department of Health and Human Services will work closely with medical organizations, including the Korean Hospital Association, to continuously monitor the supply of pharmaceuticals and medical devices in healthcare settings such as hospitals and pharmacies. They will also establish a system to track the supply and pricing of these essential products.
Additionally, the team will implement measures to address potential distribution issues, including hoarding and panic buying.
The Food and Drug Administration plans to collaborate with the Department of Commerce to discuss supply solutions for naphtha, a crucial raw material used in film packaging for medical products like IV solutions. If necessary, they will expedite approval processes for adding manufacturing sites or altering packaging materials.
During the meeting, the Livelihood and Welfare Team also addressed measures to stabilize living conditions and protect vulnerable populations.
The Department of Health and Human Services will bolster efforts to identify, counsel, and support households in crisis through a proposed supplementary budget. They plan to expand emergency welfare support and daily care services and to extend the Free Essentials Support Project nationwide.
The department will also assess potential increases in heating and cooling costs for social welfare facilities and secure additional funding if needed.
The Department of Labor will streamline the processing of unemployment benefits for job seekers and provide living expense loans.
To address potential increases in school operating costs due to high oil prices, the Department of Education will encourage state and local education agencies to prepare supplementary budget proposals. They will also support the smooth enrollment of students who have arrived urgently from affected areas.
The Department of Gender Equality and Family will assist Korean citizens and their families returning from the Middle East by providing psychological counseling, recovery support, and interpretation services through local family centers.
Secretary Jeong said the Livelihood and Welfare Team will continue working to stabilize living conditions and support vulnerable groups until the economic situation improves, adding that the government will proactively address concerns related to the supply of pharmaceuticals and medical devices.