The Ministry of Health and Welfare said on the 13th that it held a meeting of the "task force (TF) to respond to damage to the health care industry related to the Middle East situation" at the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) and reviewed potential damage to domestic biohealth corporations and medical institutions.
Attendees at the meeting included the second vice minister of the ministry, the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), eight associations related to pharmaceuticals, biotech, medical devices, and cosmetics, as well as officials from seven corporations and four medical institutions that have entered the Middle East.
As the Middle East situation has rapidly changed recently, the ministry has formed and been operating a TF with related ministries and the industry since on the 6th. It also activated an emergency contact network with related groups to check the operating status of medical institutions that have entered the local market and the export, materials and supplies procurement, and logistics conditions for pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and cosmetics.
In addition, to receive and support grievances from corporations and medical institutions that have entered the Middle East region, the "health care industry damage support center" at the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) has also been operating since the same day.
At the meeting, corporations and medical institutions that export pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and cosmetics to the Middle East or are conducting business locally attended to discuss potential damage and response measures.
The industry expressed concern that if uncertainty in the Middle East is prolonged, business disruptions such as rising logistics costs and delayed payments could occur. In response, it asked the government for support with transportation costs and for information on local trade and safety trends.
The ministry decided to review support measures by working with related ministries, including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, to use emergency logistics vouchers and policy finance programs.
Second Vice Minister Lee Hyeong-hoon said, "As uncertainty in the Middle East is growing, close information sharing between the government and the industry is necessary to minimize damage," adding, "When grievances from biohealth corporations and medical institutions that have entered the local market are received by the damage support center, we will work with related ministries to provide swift support."