Government Contributes $1 Million to the International Drug Purchase Organization

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The government has decided to contribute 1 million dollars to the International Medical Products Procurement Organization to expand the distribution of COVID-19 diagnostic kits to developing countries.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 3rd, Jo Young-moo, Director of the Development Cooperation Bureau, held a virtual signing ceremony with Philippe Duneton, Secretary-General of the International Medical Products Procurement Organization, on the 2nd and signed the contribution agreement.

The International Medical Products Procurement Organization, established in September 2006 as a health specialized agency based in Geneva, Switzerland, supports the development of medicines and medical devices for the diagnosis and treatment of AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. It is actively participating in the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A). In particular, it is conducting a project to distribute antigen-based rapid COVID-19 diagnostic kits in Africa in cooperation with the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Korea has been a board member country of the International Medical Products Procurement Organization since November 2006, participating in decisions on the organization's business strategies and operational plans from the Executive Board. Since 2008, Korea has contributed a total of 70 million dollars in funding. Following a 5 million dollar contribution in August using the International Disease Eradication Fund, Korea has decided to contribute an additional 1 million dollars this time, bringing its total contribution to the organization to 6 million dollars this year.

This additional 1 million dollar contribution will be used for the diagnostic activities of the International Medical Products Procurement Organization's Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator. It is expected to particularly contribute to strengthening the COVID-19 diagnostic capacity of African countries and expanding the overseas market for domestically produced diagnostic kits.

The government has so far provided bilateral humanitarian aid worth 60 million dollars, focusing on diagnostic kits and masks, to more than 120 countries including health-vulnerable and COVID-19-affected countries to actively contribute to the international community's overcoming of COVID-19. Going forward, it plans to continue strengthening COVID-19 response efforts through cooperation with health organizations.