The year 2024 has been a turbulent one for the healthcare industry, marked by ongoing conflicts between the medical community and the government over a policy to increase medical school admission quotas by 2,000. Tensions escalated further with the Dec. 3 martial law debacle. Many sectors within the healthcare industry faced significant challenges, with some reporting their worst year on record. Here, we highlight the top 10 healthcare news stories that defined this year. -- Ed.

A foundation has been laid for long-term policy formulation and support, considering the uniqueness of the pharmaceutical and bio industries, such as the astronomical costs of new drug development. The "Regulations on the Establishment and Operation of the National Bio Committee" (Presidential Decree), chaired by the President, passed the cabinet meeting on Oct. 29.

The pharmaceutical and bio industries, including the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association, have been demanding the establishment of such a committee directly under the President.

Although the National Bio Committee is not solely focused on pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals, it can be viewed as an environment that provides hope for the pharmaceutical and bio industries, considering that key items in the bio sector include new drugs.

The National Bio Committee is a top-level interministerial governance body that presents visions and strategies for all areas of biotechnology, including health and medicine, food, resources, energy, and the environment, through public-private cooperation. It discusses and decides on various policies to enhance sustainable national competitiveness, including the bioeconomy and biosecurity.

The National Bio Committee comprises up to 40 members, including the President as the chair and one vice-chair.

Government members include the ministers of 10 related ministries -- the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Office for Government Policy Coordination, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, and the Personal Information Protection Commission. It includes the senior secretary to the President for science and technology and the third deputy director of the Office of National Security.

Civilian members are experts with extensive knowledge and experience in the bio field, and the president has appointed them. The President designates the vice-chair from among the civilian members. The term of the appointed members is two years.

The National Bio Committee will deliberate on various matters, such as:

-- Formulation and improvement of major bio-related policies and systems

-- Review and improvement of regulations hindering the development and competitiveness of the bio sector

-- Development and adjustment of research and development strategies and major investment plans in the biofield,

-- Strengthening biosecurity capabilities

-- Expansion of the foundation for bioresearch, development, and industry,

-- Establishment of public-private and public-public cooperation systems and support for international cooperation,

-- Planning and coordination of bio-related projects conducted by two or more central administrative agencies

-- Adjustment of project plans for large-scale bio-related projects

“Through the National Bio Committee, it will be possible to quickly connect and cooperate on bio-related policies currently being carried out individually by various ministries, enabling the full mobilization of national capabilities for the transition to a bioeconomy and the strengthening of national competitiveness,” the government said when announcing the formation of the committee.

However, the launch of the National Bio Committee has inevitably been pushed to a lower priority due to the impeachment crisis triggered by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law. It is uncertain whether it will be launched next year.