[2025 Budget] KDCA Allocates 1.2698 Trillion KRW for Infectious Disease and Chronic Disease Prevention... 22% Decrease from This Year

Partial COVID-19 Vaccine Costs Covered by Some Local Governments

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced on the 30th that it has prepared a budget of 1.2698 trillion won for next year, which is a 22.1% decrease from this year's 1.6303 trillion won. The budget decrease is due to the expectation that local governments will bear part of the COVID-19 vaccination costs and that COVID-19 treatments will be included in the health insurance system.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

First, the budget related to COVID-19 vaccination was significantly reduced from 429.3 billion won this year to 224.2 billion won, as local governments will bear about half of the vaccine purchase costs. Free COVID-19 vaccinations for high-risk groups such as those aged 65 and older and immunocompromised individuals will be maintained as before.

With the anticipated inclusion of COVID-19 treatments in health insurance coverage, the budget for purchasing treatments was also cut. Accordingly, the comprehensive management budget for new infectious disease crisis situations was reduced from 185.3 billion won this year to 8.1 billion won.

The KDCA explained that the focus of next year’s budget allocation was on efficiently performing its core tasks, such as the prevention and management of both ongoing and emerging infectious diseases and chronic diseases. For initial response to anthrax, one of the representative biological weapons, a budget of 4.9 billion won was newly allocated to secure vaccines for 50,000 people. To enable rapid use during new infectious disease outbreaks, 3 billion won was allocated for the storage and delivery costs of 21.86 million personal protective equipment items.

To systematically manage the national immunization program, 6.8 billion won was allocated to operate vaccine effectiveness evaluations and to build the next-generation integrated vaccination management system. The budget for malaria eradication projects was increased from 1.7 billion won this year to 2 billion won next year, with 15 dedicated personnel newly assigned.

To manage chronic diseases and prevent health hazards, the visiting rare disease diagnosis support project will be expanded from 400 cases this year to 800 cases, with a related budget of 900 million won (500 million won this year). A new budget of 400 million won will be introduced to establish a central injury management center and operate the national injury management committee.

To enhance national health care capabilities, 29 billion won was newly allocated for the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine development support project in preparation for pandemics, and 3.4 billion won was allocated for the priority infectious disease rapid development technology establishment support project.

Jiyoung Mi, Commissioner of the KDCA, said, "We have made efforts to faithfully reflect the necessary budget to establish a thorough preparedness system for future pandemics, manage infectious diseases and chronic diseases due to social and environmental changes, and support the rapid development of vaccines and treatments, in order to create a safe and healthy society free from infectious disease crises and everyday health threats."