AmCham Holds 17th Healthcare Innovation Seminar: Accelerating Collaboration on Drug Pricing Reform, Vaccines, and AI

Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, and National Assembly in Attendance

Discussion on Regulatory Innovation Implementation Strategies

The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AmCham) has provided a forum for communication between Korea and the United States to turn Korea's healthcare reform into tangible outcomes, such as expanding patient access, fostering innovation, and promoting investment.

On the 3rd, attendees are taking a commemorative photo at the "2026 17th AmCham Healthcare Innovation Seminar" held at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul. AmCham

On September 3, AmCham announced that it had held the "2026 17th AmCham Healthcare Innovation Seminar" at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul based on these themes. Approximately 150 participants attended the event, including government officials from both Korea and the United States, members of the legislature, industry leaders, and healthcare experts.

James Kim, Chairman and CEO of AmCham, emphasized, "Korea has made meaningful progress in healthcare reform, and now these changes must be implemented in a predictable and transparent way that leads to tangible improvements in patient access." He added, "Drug pricing systems, vaccines, and artificial intelligence (AI) are key areas that will determine the future of Korea's healthcare. If the government and industry continue to communicate to find a balance between patient access, innovation, and sustainability, Korea's global competitiveness will be strengthened even further."

Amid recent Korea-U.S. economic and trade meetings where regulatory competitiveness and non-tariff barriers have emerged as major topics, attendees agreed that in order for Korea to establish itself as a global hub for healthcare innovation, it is essential to have predictable and consistent policy implementation, as well as a regulatory framework that aligns with global standards. In particular, three key issues were highlighted: the successful implementation of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's drug pricing system reform; strengthening Korea's vaccine ecosystem; and establishing a policy foundation to activate AI-based healthcare and precision medicine.

Hye-Young Lee, CEO of Bristol Myers Squibb Korea, stated during a panel discussion, "For this drug pricing system reform to yield tangible results, it is necessary to set measurable policy goals for innovative medicines, promptly apply newly introduced improvement measures to real-world cases, and then expand them to other needed areas." She continued, "Through this, we can achieve visible results in the next two to three years and improve both patient access to innovative treatments and policy predictability."

Jeong Tong-ryeong, Director of Medical Safety and Prevention at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, stated, "To respond to rapid aging, the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, and the emergence of new infectious diseases, we must move away from a system focused on infants and young children to one that provides timely, lifelong vaccinations." He added, "The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency is creating an environment where people can receive vaccinations more safely and effectively through the enactment of the Vaccination Management Act and reform of the national vaccination introduction system. To this end, we will continue close communication with the industry."

Additionally, Chanwoo Song, Vice President of Pfizer Korea, and Hong Gijong, a professor at Gachon University, emphasized the importance of life course-based prevention strategies and fostering the mRNA technology ecosystem.

Divya D. Mehta, Vice President for AMEA at Guardant Health, said, "The value of precision medicine is only fully realized when advances in science and technology lead to better diagnostic and treatment options for patients. A flexible regulatory environment that enables the reasonable evaluation and acceptance of innovative technologies offered by overseas NGS laboratories is essential for patients to access proven medical technologies in a timely manner."

The AmCham Healthcare Innovation Seminar is a leading annual event that seeks opportunities for cooperation in healthcare policy and market entry between Korea and the United States. This year, official partner companies included Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Eversight, Guardant Health, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, MSD, and Pfizer, all coming together to promote collaboration.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.