COVID-19 Prevention, Flu Vaccines, Masks... Key Points to Watch in the Welfare Committee Audit

National Audit of Ministry of Health and Welfare and KDCA from the 7th
Key Ministries Handling COVID-19 That Swept This Year
Health Care, Welfare, and Livelihood Directly Connected... Aiming for Policy Audit

Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo attended the full meeting of the Health and Welfare Committee held at the National Assembly on the 17th of last month and responded to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] This year's National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee audit is expected to focus mainly on the authorities' response capabilities to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and the recent controversy surrounding the influenza (flu) vaccination issue. Since health, medical fields, and welfare policies are closely related to the public's daily life, past audits have tended to concentrate on policy issues rather than partisan conflicts. As this is the first audit of the 21st National Assembly, there is interest in whether incisive critiques will emerge among the specialized standing committee members.

On the first day of the audit, the 7th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), which separated from the ministry less than a month ago, will be the subjects. Since the KDCA is the main agency responsible for COVID-19 response, evaluations of past quarantine achievements and future tasks are expected. Given the government's emphasis on "science-based quarantine measures," opposition parties are likely to raise counterarguments, point out shortcomings, and address the strained relationship with the medical community.

Regarding the Ministry of Health and Welfare, inquiries are expected concerning various health and medical policies that triggered last month's doctors' general strike, which has since been resolved. Questions will likely focus on the four major policies criticized by the medical community: the establishment of public medical schools, expansion of medical school quotas, pilot projects for herbal medicine insurance coverage, and promotion of telemedicine, as well as the future direction following the agreement to re-examine these policies with the medical community. Although the Korean Medical Association took a confrontational stance against the government, the four major policies involve somewhat conflicting interests even among opposition parties, so it is unlikely that the ministry will face unilateral criticism.

Additionally, long-standing medical issues such as accounting management problems in large hospitals and the medical delivery system are expected to be debated during the Ministry of Health and Welfare audit. The audits of the Ministry and the KDCA will be held in the National Assembly on the first day and conducted via video conference on the following day to prevent large gatherings amid COVID-19. The audit of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, scheduled for the 13th, is expected to cover topics such as the public mask system, which was controversial in the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, the currently developing COVID-19 antibody treatments, and the management issues of botulinum toxin products involved in domestic and international disputes. Company representatives will also appear as witnesses regarding mainstream hygiene management and the secondhand pharmaceutical trade.

For the National Pension Service audit on the 14th, recent misconduct by some employees will be addressed, and the National Health Insurance Service audit on the 20th is expected to feature partisan disputes over the current administration's policy to strengthen coverage. Since both institutions handle substantial funds from the public, mid- to long-term financial management remains a perennial topic. Other issues anticipated to be discussed during the Health and Welfare Committee audit include additional registration for medical students' national exams and matters related to child abuse.

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