MOHW Signs 710 Billion Won Investment MOU with Roche

Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong of the Ministry of Health and Welfare poses with Jörg-Michael Rupp, Head of Roche Pharma International, after they struck an MOU to strengthen the global competitiveness of Korea’s bio health industry at the Banyan Tree Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, on March 3.

MOHW Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong poses with Patrik Jonsson, President of Lilly International after they signed an MOU on March 9, at the Nine Tree Premier ROKAUS Hotel Seoul to support the development of Korea’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry and promote public health. (Photos: MOHW)

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) and Roche signed a MOU on March 3 at the Banyan Tree Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, to strengthen the global competitiveness of Korea’s biohealth industry.

The MOU aims to leverage Korea’s promising drug-development pipelines and strong clinical trial capabilities by enabling Roche to share its global R&D network and market-entry expertise with Korean pharmaceutical and biotech R&D partners, while promoting cooperation in areas such as attracting clinical trials and open innovation.

Through this partnership, Korea is expected to further solidify its position as a strategic hub for global clinical trials in Asia. Pipeline refers to a term encompassing the progress of a drug candidate through stages such as research, clinical trials, and regulatory approval.

Over the next five years, Roche plans to invest a total of 710 billion won to attract global clinical trials in Korea―including in areas such as common and intractable diseases and advanced biopharmaceuticals―train R&D specialists, and identify promising Korean biohealth companies and support their rapid growth through open innovation.

Through this agreement, both sides also agreed to strengthen the industry ecosystem needed to attract global clinical trials, expand global R&D networks, and actively support the global expansion of Korean biohealth companies.

Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong stated, “This MOU is expected to elevate Korea’s clinical trial competitiveness to a new level while supporting the rapid growth and global expansion of promising Korean biohealth companies. We will continue to create further opportunities for cooperation with global pharmaceutical companies.”

Jörg-Michael Rupp, Head of Roche Pharma International, remarked, “We believe this collaboration with the Korean government will maximize synergies between both sides and serve as a catalyst for fundamentally strengthening the core competitiveness of Korea’s biohealth industry. Building on this partnership, Roche will continue its efforts toward a healthier future for humanity.”

MOHW Minister Discusses Expanding AI in Public Healthcare with National University Hospitals

Minister of Health and Welfare Jeong Eun-kyeong visited Seoul National University Bundang Hospital on March 17, held a policy meeting on expanding AI in public healthcare with the heads of major regional medical institutions, including Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Kyungpook National University Hospital, and Jeonbuk National University Hospital.

The meeting aimed to explore policy support measures for delivering patient-centered healthcare services through AI transformation (AX) and for building a technological foundation for a regionally self-sufficient healthcare system that narrows disparities in access to care between the Seoul metropolitan area and other regions.

At the meeting, the heads of the national university hospitals shared their progress in implementing medical AI, leveraging the core digital infrastructure each hospital has built.

Participants agreed on the need for data standardization and governance across hospitals and, in particular, requested government support for computing resources such as GPUs to help drive innovation in the field.

In addition, the MOHW launched the Basic Healthcare AI Task Force, headed by the Vice Minister, in February and is currently preparing the Basic Healthcare AI Strategy (draft) for release in the first half of this year.

A core element of the strategy is to build a “public healthcare AI highway” that leverages AI to significantly strengthen the coordination of medical care across primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare institutions, enabling people to receive the level of healthcare services they need anywhere in the country.

Minister Jeong emphasized, “The Ministry sees AI as a key driver for closing regional disparities in healthcare, addressing gaps in essential and public healthcare, and safeguarding the lives of the people.”

“We will actively incorporate the issues discussed at the meeting into the Basic Healthcare AI Strategy―including the establishment of an AI cooperation and operational framework, financial support, and regulatory reform―and provide full support for national university hospitals to play a central role in advancing AX in regional healthcare systems,” she added.