Seoul: Healthcare experts from South Korea and the United States have called for regulatory reforms aligned with global standards to support the sustainable growth of South Korea's healthcare sector and enhance patient care. The appeal was made during an annual healthcare innovation seminar organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) in Seoul, which saw the participation of approximately 150 senior government officials, business leaders, and healthcare experts from both countries.
According to Yonhap News Agency, participants at the seminar stressed the importance of aligning with global policy standards amidst ongoing discussions between South Korea and the United States over regulatory competitiveness and non-tariff barriers. Local doctors underscored the significance of precision medicine in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). Lee Ji-beom, a professor at Yonsei University Hospital specializing in lung cancer, highlighted the critical need for precision diagnostics and treatment in disease care. She pointed out that genome testing for advanced lung cancer patients with metastatic disease is essential yet challenging to implement due to existing regulatory barriers.
Kim Doo-sik, a healthcare investment ombudsman, noted that precision technologies could significantly enhance treatment outcomes for cancer patients in South Korea and spur innovation in new drug development. Other experts at the seminar advocated for regulatory improvements for patients awaiting cornea transplants, pointing out that access is currently limited by regulations treating corneas similarly to other human tissue. Michael Titus, chief operating officer of Eversight, a U.S.-based nonprofit eye bank, called for specific legislation addressing corneal transplants.
AMCHAM Chairman and CEO James Kim remarked that while South Korea has made notable progress in healthcare reform, the priority now is to convert that progress into tangible results. This can be achieved through predictable and transparent implementation that expands patient access and supports ongoing innovation.