Kim Jong-in "Should Separate into Ministry of Public Health and Welfare... Also Need Individual 'Regional Quarantine Offices'"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, raised his voice that the existing Ministry of Health and Welfare should be divided into the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Welfare.

Chairman Kim attended the "Policy Forum for the Establishment of the Ministry of Public Health" held at the National Assembly on the 30th and said, "Recently, as the welfare system has expanded and transformed into a huge financial institution, I think the status of the Ministry of Health and Welfare has risen, but it has not yet achieved remarkable progress in health-related matters."

He explained, "When another massive virus outbreak occurs, it is necessary to strengthen the Ministry of Health to respond systematically," adding, "To do so, just as national defense is solidified to defend against external enemies from a security perspective, an internal security system must be secured so that the structure of health becomes stronger."

He also emphasized the need to establish regional quarantine offices for the nationwide quarantine network. He stressed, "Currently, our country's quarantine system only has the Central Disease Control Headquarters," and "To expand the nationwide quarantine network, regional quarantine offices responsible for quarantine in specific areas must be established separately."

He continued, "Recently, health centers have become single medical institutions according to the convenience of local government heads, failing to fulfill their roles in quarantine and prevention," adding, "In the future, when the Ministry of Public Health is established with a Quarantine Agency inside it, and regional quarantine offices are created, the establishment of a perfect quarantine system will depend on how these regional quarantine offices properly connect with health centers under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.