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Towards Enhanced Medical Cooperation between Korea and Latin America in the Post-Corona Era: Focusing on K-Quarantine and Digital Healthcare economic relations, economic cooperation

Author Keumjoa Choi, Samgyo Oh, Gyoosang Seol, and Yoonkook Choi Series 20-14 Language Korean Date 2021.06.21

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   While the world has struggled to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic, the Republic of Korea has not only survived the pandemic, but utilized this as an opportunity to enhance its international reputation through swift and skillful control of the measures. This success story has widely spread across the globe making headlines in the major news media. The Korean quarantine system, characterized by the three Ts (Test-Trace-Treatment), represents the importance of quick response by the authorities concerned and the use of information and communications technology (ICT) to trace suspect cases.
   This study is basically composed of three parts: the first part examines the mechanisms of transmission of the virus in some Latin American countries (Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Peru, and Ecuador); the second part deals with the development prospect of the medical industry, focusing on its digital transformation in the post-Covid era; and the last part presents the mode of cooperation with the Latin American medical sector.
   More than anything else, this study examines variables that are assumed to have affected the spread of the virus in Latin American countries: measures taken by the government to control the epidemic, the quality of political leadership dealing with the health crisis, government spending on the health sector, effectiveness of the healthcare system, the role played by unequal socioeconomic structures, the resources and capabilities of the medical sector, including human resources and medical equipment, and the capabilities of ICT infrastructure to be used to control the spread of the virus. In addition, we also analyze the government measures for testing and tracing the suspect cases to see how effective and timely those measures have been. By analyzing the transmission mechanisms of the epidemic and the effectiveness of the test and trace policy we can locate the exact point of support and cooperation needed for the Latin American countries.
   After examining many aspects of spread-control mechanisms in the five aforementioned countries, we conclude as follows: 1) the commitments on the part of the central government or the top political leadership to curb the spread of Covid-19 are important especially at the initial stage; 2) government spending on the health sector have been much lower than OECD countries, signifying that the medical preparedness of the health sector has been insufficient to deal with the sudden onset of the virus, and also that the economic contraction caused by Covid-19 means it will be difficult to expect any major increase in government spending or investment in healthcare; 3) the high percentage of informal sector employees, mostly living in the poor areas of the city and countryside with poor sanitary conditions and commuting by mass transportation, contributed to the spread of the virus despite the stringent lockdown measures; 4) the shortage of medical staff, ICU beds, medical equipment and supplies (including personal protective equipment for the medical staff and ventilators and oxygen for the patients), though commonly observed in many parts of the world, prevented hospitals from providing effective treatment and even threatened the breakdown of the hospital system in some locations; 5) the healthcare sector has been divided into two de facto separate systems, that is, ill-equipped and poorly staffed public healthcare institutions in the small cities and countryside on the one hand, and well-equipped and staffed private healthcare institutions for the affluent in the big cities, on the other; and 6) the test and trace policies of the governments were mostly scanty, ineffective and too slow to catch up with suspect cases. Initial responses to the virus have been slow and insufficient, in part due to the lack of test-kits and lab facilities, thus losing the golden time to effectively flatten the curve.
   In the first part of the study, an analysis of the whole area of interactions among the state, economy, and medical sector leads us to believe that the coronavirus has widely spread through the rifts created by socioeconomic inequalities, fragmentation of the healthcare system, lack of medical preparedness and the supportive role of ICT infrastructure. Korea can be a great partner for Latin American countries to modernize their hospital system, supply appropriate medical equipments and supplies, introduce the K-quarantine programs, and invest in the ICT infrastructure and technologies.
   The second part focuses on the ICT development potential in Latin American countries. Most Latin American countries rank between 50 and 100 in the digital competitiveness and network preparedness index. They are not advanced but have a great potential to develop further. For Korea this means a great variety of opportunities to contribute to the cooperative relations with the Latin American countries as well as business opportunities.
   The coronavirus seems to be here to stay, with many different variants appearing all over the world, meaning it is time to formulate a proper vision for the post-Corona era. In the post-Corona era our lifestyle will be significantly transformed due to digital technologies and supporting ICT infrastructure playing a key role in ensuring a sustainable economy and national competitiveness. Digital transformation is not an option anymore but an essential requirement to survive in the new era, and the same holds for measures to curb infectious diseases like Covid-19 and to improve the quality of medical services.
   This study provides four venues to catch up with the new trends in digital transformation in the health industry: 1) The hospital system in Latin American countries needs to incorporate digital solutions, making paper work disappear and ensuring a seamless flow of diagnosis and treatment process using EMR/EHR, PACS, and other information technologies and applied systems. Digital hospital solutions will provide better treatment and better clinical decisions, as well as better financial options for hospital management. Though most of the hospitals in the region still rely on paper work for medical processes, there are already movements toward establishing hospital information systems. Many countries have been pushing for e-government projects recognizing digital health as a key task to accomplish.
   2) Telemedicine is another way to provide better medical services for those who cannot come to hospitals and see doctors for various reasons. People living in remote areas and emergency patients in locations without sufficient medical equipments can take advantage of the expert diagnosis and treatment in the big city hospitals through telemedicine. Telemedicine is an absolute necessity for the people in high mountain areas and Amazon jungle in Latin America. Telemedicine has also provided a safe way of diagnosis and treatment during Covid-19 and will be a valuable service if any similar pandemic strikes again.
   3) Smart wearable devices, including smart watches, smart phones and other small devices that measure, record and transmit vital signs to digital hospitals, are growing fast and will continue to do so. Healthcare consumerism, which refers to the active role of patients as producer and owner of health data, will play a bigger role in the healthcare process as big data and AI algorithms become ever more important in providing data-driven decision making.
   4) AI has provided many valuable solutions for low-cost diagnosis in many diseases and also helped provide a cheap way of seeing doctors in a short time. Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina have seen many medical startups using AI technology emerge and develop fast providing valuable services for millions of people who otherwise could not use healthcare services.
   In the third and final part of this study, we analyze the characteristics of each country in terms of opportunities and risks involved when the Korean government and ICT-based healthcare providers seek to advance into Lain America. We recommend an active pursuit of opportunities toward Brazil and Mexico due to their huge potential for further development. We recommend rather cautious but still active cooperation toward Peru and Argentina despite their political and economic instabilities and rather limited development potential for the time being. We recommend a cautious and gradual approach toward Ecuador due to its limited digital preparedness and small market chances. We also recommend active support for people in disadvantaged areas within Latin American countries using ODA programs offering them chances to experience the benefits of ICT-based healthcare.

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