Inauguration of Cho Kyu-hong as New Minister of Health and Welfare
Includes Aspirations for Expanding Essential Medical Services and Pension Reform
Health and Welfare Minister nominee Cho Kyu-hong is delivering opening remarks at the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 27th. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] Cho Kyu-hong, the newly appointed Minister of Health and Welfare, expressed his ambition to realize 'welfare for the vulnerable,' a core role of the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
On the 5th, Minister Cho stated in his inaugural speech, "I am pleased and at the same time feel a heavy responsibility and sense of mission to serve as the first Minister of Health and Welfare under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration," adding, "I will devote all my efforts to health and welfare policies that enable the people to live warmer and happier lives."
Minister Cho particularly emphasized social minorities and blind spots. He said, "There are still many socially vulnerable people around us who find it difficult to raise their voices about their hardships," and added, "The core role of the Ministry of Health and Welfare is to identify these individuals without any blind spots and to realize 'welfare for the vulnerable' by providing meticulous and substantial support."
As the first task to be promoted, Minister Cho pointed to protecting vulnerable groups. This includes protecting low-income households from livelihood insecurity through livelihood benefits and catastrophic medical expense support, and strengthening safety nets for vulnerable groups at each life stage and new welfare demands. Minister Cho said, "We will actively discover households in crisis by utilizing big data and strengthening inter-agency cooperation to ensure there are no blind spots."
He also presented plans to enhance the sustainability of welfare. Minister Cho stated, "We will simultaneously pursue a growth-friendly welfare strategy that strengthens investments responding to low birth rates, such as introducing parental benefits and improving the quality of childcare services," adding, "We will promote reforms based on social consensus aiming for a national pension system that enables intergenerational coexistence, and while strengthening coverage for essential medical care under the National Health Insurance, we will also carefully manage finances to secure sustainability."
Regarding COVID-19 prevention, he said he would focus on high-risk groups and infection-vulnerable populations. Minister Cho said, "To prevent severe cases among high-risk groups, we will promptly conduct testing and prescriptions, preemptively block infections among residents of infection-vulnerable facilities, and strengthen monitoring of elderly living alone in connection with local communities," adding, "We will expand a permanent infectious disease response system, including emergency treatment beds, while continuously promoting the transition to a general medical system."
Furthermore, Minister Cho revealed his ambition regarding the government's efforts to expand essential medical services. He stated, "To expand essential medical services, we will introduce public policy fees in areas such as severe and emergency surgeries to establish an essential and public medical system that can be accessed timely anytime and anywhere." In addition, Minister Cho shared his vision for the health industry, including expanding investment in bio research and development and regulatory innovation.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
