Nation's First 'Public-Private Joint Infectious Disease Control Tower'... Gangwon-do Forms 'Infectious Disease Management Committee'

Composed of 15 Top Infectious Disease Experts in the Province

Gangwon Provincial Government

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] Gangwon Province has formed the 'Gangwon Province Infectious Disease Management Committee' composed of infectious disease experts within the province to identify tasks in the health and medical field and discuss policy measures.

According to the province on the 25th, the first committee meeting was held on the same day, where they reported on measures to improve vaccination rates and the promotion of Gangwon Province-style autonomous quarantine, followed by an expert forum on the Infectious Disease Management Support Group's 'Strengthening the Public Medical System for Future Infectious Disease Preparedness.'

The committee will serve as the control tower for the province's infectious disease policies. Previously, the province partially amended the 'Ordinance on Infectious Disease Prevention and Management' last month to establish the legal basis for the committee.

At the first meeting, committee appointment letters were presented, private co-chairpersons and vice-chairpersons were elected, and notably, Gangwon Province is the first to have the metropolitan government head serve as the chairperson.

The committee operates under a system with the governor and private experts as co-chairpersons. The private co-chairperson is Lee Seung-jun, director of Gangwon National University Hospital (chairman of the Korea Hospital Association Gangwon Province Hospital Association), and the vice-chairperson is Kim Dong-hyun, professor at Hallym University College of Medicine.

At the meeting, heads of related organizations such as the Gangwon Medical Association, Gangwon Nurses Association, Gangwon Infectious Disease Management Support Group, Gangwon Public Health Medical Support Group, and Gangwon Regional Mental Health Welfare Center, as well as experts from medical institutions including Hallym University Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Yonsei University Severance Christian Hospital, Sokcho Bogwang Hospital, and Wonju Medical Center attended.