Seoul, Nov 12: The chief of a global initiative tasked with providing affordable treatments to low-and-middle income nations has said that South Korea's effective handling of Covid-19 can offer valuable lessons for the world in addressing future pandemics and existing diseases. "Korea managed the pandemic in the best way in the world," Unitaid Executive Director Philippe Duneton said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency, noting that the country has shown "discipline and communication," as well as "collective intelligence and responsibility." Duneton was visiting South Korea to take part in the World Bio Summit, co-hosted by the health ministry and the World Health Organization in the country's western port city of Incheon, under the theme of "Future investments for a healthy and secure decade.
" "I think what was really impressive about the Republic of Korea is that it is one of the rare countries in the world that did not undergo a total shutdown," Duneton said, referring to South Korea by its official name. "We will use this learning even outside a pandemic situation because we have to fight HIV, tuberculosis and other diseases," he added. Unitaid, established in 2006, works to provide pharmaceutical support to developing nations, targeting major diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.
South Korea, a major donor to the organization, has contributed a total of US$95 million as of the end of 2023 and has served as a member of the executive board since its establishm.
