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| Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol speaks with World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during an online conference, Feb. 23 (local time). Courtesy of Ministry of Health and Welfare |
By Lee Hyo-jin
While vaccines and treatments remain vital tools to combat the ongoing global health crisis triggered by COVID-19, inequitable access to medical resources has hindered pandemic responses in low- and middle-income countries.
Unlike rich countries that are gearing up to return to normal life thanks to high vaccination rates and sustainable supply of treatments, low- and middle-income countries are still suffering from high fatality rates and surging infections, due to shortages of lifesaving treatments and vaccines.
Not only is this unjust, but this situation poses serious threats to the world, as low levels of vaccine coverage could lead to an emergence of unexpected variants, prolonging the pandemic indefinitely.
Against this backdrop, Korea, a leading biopharmaceutical country, has joined international initiatives to enable even and timely access to vaccines and treatments around the world.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced recently that Korea has been selected as the World Health Organization's (WHO) vaccine training hub, to serve low- and middle-income countries to produce biologicals such as vaccines and treatments for COVID-19, as well as in preparation for future pandemics.
In an online conference held on Feb. 23 (local time) attended by Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the launch of the vaccine training hub, as a part of the international organization's plan to enable equal distribution of pharmaceutical products.
"One of the key barriers to successful technology transfer in low- and middle-income countries is the lack of a skilled workforce and weak regulatory systems. Building those skills will ensure that they can manufacture the health products they need at a good quality standard so that they no longer have to wait at the end of the queue," Tedros said.
According to the health ministry, two training centers ― each in Incheon's Songdo and North Chungcheong Province's Osong that are already carrying out bio-manufacturing training for local companies ― will now expand their operations to accommodate trainees from other countries.
Beginning in July, the facilities will provide 370 foreign trainees with both technical and hands-on training on operational and manufacturing practices. Another 150 Korean trainees will join the program to boost human resources exchanges with other countries in the biotechnology field.
The ministry plans to enhance its training programs both in quantity and quality, so that by 2025, over 2,000 foreign trainees would be invited to the training hub each year.
The government has developed a comprehensive curriculum on general bio-manufacturing in cooperation with leading domestic pharmaceutical companies including Samsung Biologics, SK Bioscience, Celltrion and GC Pharma.
Health Minister Kwon said the launch of the training hub marks the country's transition from a recipient to a donor in the biotechnology sector.
"Sixty years ago, Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world," Kwon said in a statement.
"But with the help and support of WHO and the international community, we have transitioned into a country with a strong public health system and bio industry. And Korea deeply cherishes the solidarity that the international community has shown us during this transition," he added.
"By sharing this knowledge we've learnt from our own experiences, we will strive to support the low- and middle-income countries in strengthening their bio-manufacturing capabilities so that we could pave the way together towards a safer world during the next pandemic," Kwon said.
Lee Kang-ho, deputy minister of the global vaccine hub office, said the launch of the training hub was the result of months-long joint efforts among governmental bodies and the National Assembly.
"When we submitted the proposal to the WHO last December, we were told that Korea was among 10 candidates. Competition was quite high," Lee told The Korea Times.
During his meeting with the WHO Director-General in Geneva last November, Assembly Speaker Park Byung-seug requested the establishment of the training hub in Korea. Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, for his part, sent a letter to the director-general expressing the administration's strong willingness to provide support to low- and middle-income countries.
"I believe the WHO has chosen Korea because of our robust bio-manufacturing capacity and training infrastructure, as well as the government's willingness to commit to the international community," Lee said.
He added that the launch of the training hub will take the country on a big step toward its goal of becoming a global vaccine hub.
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