By Lee Dasom

A new strategy for promoting development cooperation in health seeks to lead efforts to improve global health security and healthcare equity.

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on May 11 discussed this in a meeting of the Committee for International Development Cooperation at Government Complex-Seoul.

First, the plan's focus is on a range of tasks like launching basic healthcare systems, responding to infectious diseases and expanding digital health through customized support that considers the development level and needs of a partner country.

Another task is to boost cooperation with global health organizations such as the Global Fund and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, as well as domestic bio companies and nongovernmental organizations for effective official development assistance (ODA) in health.

Seoul will also launch an initiative covering the entire cycle from prevention to diagnosis and treatment to weed out tuberculosis and malaria, two diseases common in developing countries.

Prime Minister Kim also discussed a strategy for promoting development cooperation in culture. He announced the use of Korean culture's soft power and the country's capacities in artificial intelligence and information and communications technology to carry out "innovative ODA," which seeks to help the growth of the cultural and creative industries and tourism content of partner countries.

dlektha0319@korea.kr