‘Global Health Roundtable with Ambassadors in Korea’ successfully held yesterday (27th) at the National Assembly to promote cooperation between Korea and the Asian-Pacific countries. The roundtable was co-hosted by Korean Parliamentarian Forum on Global Health (KPFGH) and the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) to strengthen cooperation in the healthcare sector between key countries in the Asia-Pacific region and Korea.

The roundtable was attended by ambassadors and embassy representatives from 7 countries in the Asia-Pacific region (Laos, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Mongolia, Indonesia, and the Philippines), as well as parliamentarians from the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee and Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee. In addition, representatives from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) joined the meeting. The event began with an opening speech by Chair Jumin Park of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee, followed by remarks from ambassadors and embassy representatives and a discussion of key agenda on healthcare cooperation.

□ Call for cooperation from each country

The ambassadors shared the healthcare challenges faced by their countries and suggested possible cooperation with Korea. In particular, they discussed ways to cooperate with Korea in areas such as building health infrastructure, strengthening infectious disease response systems, and human resource development.

□ Direction of Korea's International Development Cooperation

Major Korean healthcare organizations in attendance, including the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH), introduced the current status of healthcare ODA projects in the Asia-Pacific region and pledged to seek tailored support that reflects the needs of partner countries.

□ Strengthening sustainable cooperation

The opinions gathered at the roundtable will be actively reflected in Korea's global health cooperation policy and ODA projects, leading to the development of sustainable cooperation models between the two parties.

The gathering was an important opportunity for countries in the Asia-Pacific region and Korea to build stronger partnerships in the healthcare sector. The Korean Parliamentarian Forum on Global Health plans to develop concrete policies and projects based on the outcomes of this discussion.

In his closing remarks, Chairperson Jumin Park said, ‘This roundtable was an important occasion to draw a blueprint for healthcare cooperation between Korea and the Asia-Pacific region,’ and expressed his intention to continue sustainable cooperation in the future.