South Korea: Need Equal Distribution Of Vaccines, Drugs To End The Pandemic

Seoul, South Korea/UNSPLASH PHOTO

JAKARTA - South Korean Ambassador to Indonesia Park Tae-sung said equality and fair distribution of vaccines, medicines and medical devices is necessary to deal with and end the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We must ensure equality and justice for the distribution of vaccines, medicines and medical devices to be able to end this pandemic," said Ambassador Park Tae-sung in a special interview with ANTARA published Saturday, March 19.

To participate in building international community solidarity and cooperation in dealing with the pandemic, South Korea at the G7 meeting in Cornwall, the UK has expressed a commitment to contribute 200 million US dollars (Rp 2.86 trillion) for the provision of vaccines through the AMC COVAX scheme, said Ambassador Park .

"Through this contribution, we hope to provide opportunities for providing more vaccines to developing countries," he said.

"South Korea has a vaccine production center that is well-known for its collaboration with leading vaccine manufacturers. South Korea is ready to contribute vaccines to countries in need," he continued.

COVAX AMC is a global mechanism that aims to distribute vaccines free of charge to 92 lower-middle-income and low-income countries.

Furthermore, Ambassador Park emphasized the importance of technology transfer related to the manufacture of vaccines and drugs in handling COVID-19 as well as standardization of global health protocols.

"Regarding technology transfer in the fields of vaccines, medicines and medical devices, South Korean private companies have invested in developing countries and in that investment, they have also carried out technology transfers," he said.

The South Korean Ambassador also considered that it was appropriate for Indonesia's G20 presidency to raise the issue of global health architecture as one of the priority agendas in discussions at this year's G20 forum.

"And I hope that through the G20 Summit, the G20 members can produce results that can increase the equality of vaccinations and technology transfer as well as financial assistance. These results will certainly contribute to efforts to achieve the common target set at the G20 Summit in Italy, which is 70 percent of the world's population. can be vaccinated," he said.