'Research-Oriented Hospitals' Outline for the Next 10 Years... Ministry of Health and Welfare Holds Public Hearing

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] A 10-year blueprint is being drawn for 'research-oriented hospitals' that will build a biohealth research ecosystem and serve as key hubs.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare held a public hearing on the planning proposal for the 'Research-Oriented Hospital Preliminary Feasibility Project (2025~2034)' on the 21st at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul, hosted by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute.

The research-oriented hospital project was established to foster global research-oriented hospitals that lead the development of the healthcare industry through securing research capabilities and commercialization based on knowledge accumulated through medical treatment. Since 2013, 10 research-oriented hospitals have been designated and nurtured, including Kyungpook National University Hospital, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University Anam Hospital, Gil Hospital, Bundang CHA Hospital, Samsung Seoul Hospital, Seoul National University Hospital, Asan Medical Center, Severance Hospital, and Ajou University Hospital.

At this public hearing, the direction for the research-oriented hospital project for the next 10 years starting in 2025 was announced. Based on the public-private cooperation experience built by the research-oriented hospitals so far, the focus will be on producing tangible outcomes. The roles and missions of research-oriented hospitals will be strengthened, including training research personnel and establishing industry-academia-research-hospital clusters, and the government plans to expand research and development (R&D) support to create a biohealth research ecosystem.

The expansion of research-oriented hospitals will be pursued in a mid- to long-term and phased manner. Hospitals with excellent research capabilities will enter as research-oriented hospitals, while those lacking capabilities will have their designation revoked to create a virtuous cycle structure for research-oriented hospitals.

Along with the announcement of this direction, panel discussions and Q&A sessions were held at the public hearing. The panel discussion was chaired by Professor Kim Jong-jae of Asan Medical Center, who is the chairman of the Research-Oriented Hospital Planning Committee, and included Professor Jeong Bo-young of Severance Hospital, Professor Go Seong-beom of Korea University Guro Hospital, Professor Kim Seong-yoon of Catholic University, Executive Director Lee Hae-seong of KT, and Researcher Lee Seung-gyu of the Health and Medical Technology Policy Deliberation Committee.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to review the opinions raised at this public hearing, revise the planning proposal, and submit the project plan to the first preliminary feasibility study project selection contest. Jung Eun-young, Director of the Health Industry Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said, "Research-oriented hospitals must become the center of the biohealth research ecosystem through a balance of medical treatment and research." She added, "Through fostering research-oriented hospitals, we aim to improve the quality of medical services, support the growth of the domestic biohealth industry, and further expect to secure a global advantage in the biohealth research field."