MENA 지역의 보건의료산업 동향 및 국내 산업과의 연계방안 (The Healthcare Industry in the MENA Region and Its Policy Implications for Korean Companies)

Korean Abstract: 본 연구의 목적은 MENA(Middle East and North Africa) 지역의 보건의료산업 동향과 정책 특성을 살펴보고 국내 보건의료산업의 동향 및 협력환경을 분석한 뒤 우리나라와 MENA 지역 국가 간 보건의료산업의 연계 활성화방안을 도출하는 것이다. MENA 지역의 보건의료 부문은 인구 및 기대수명 증가, 소득 및 의료 서비스 수준 기대치 향상 등의 요인으로 빠르게 증가하고 있다. 또한 이 지역 정부들은 관련 인프라 확충, 의료인력 양성, 민간의료시장 확대 등을 위해 정책적 관심을 제고하고 있다. 반면 우리나라 보건의료산업은 의료기기 관련 기술수준이 높고 병원 운영에 대한 경쟁력이 있어 MENA 지역의 보건의료 수요에 적합한 협력과제를 도출할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다. 또한 국내 보건의료산업의 부문별 협력방안을 통해 국내 관련 중소기업들의 현지 진출을 지원함으로써 그동안 내수산업으로만 발전하던 보건의료산업을 수출산업으로 전환시키고 성장 기반을 확대할 수 있다. 신정부에서 2013년 5월 발표한 국정과제에서도 보건산업을 내수산업에서 수출산업으로 전환하여 미래 성장산업으로 육성하기로 하였다. 이를 달성하기 위한 7개 주요 추진계획 중에는 ‘해외환자 유치 활성화 기반 조성’과 ‘한국 의료 글로벌 진출 촉진’이 명시적으로 나타나 있다. 또한 보건의료산업 관련 중소기업들의 신흥시장 진출을 확대하고 관련 전문인력을 위한 일자리를 창출함으로써 창조경제를 활성화하는 데에도 기여할 수 있을 것으로 보인다. English Abstract: The aim of the research is to suggest policy implications for promotion of the healthcare industry on the basis of analyses of the features and trends of the Middle Eastern and North African healthcare sectors as well as cooperative environments between Korea and the MENA(Middle East and North Africa). The healthcare sectors in the MENA have been expanded with the help of increasing population, life expectancies, and household income. The governments in the region have also made efforts to establish hospitals and medical centers and activate private markets in the sector. Thus, bilateral medical cooperation between Korea and the MENA could engender mutual benefits applying Korean medical technologies and devices and management systems of university hospitals. In the process, it is necessary to implement industrial policies for small and medium sized enterprises and strengthen export competencies. Then, it can be expected that the healthcare sector will create professional jobs as a growth sector and contribute to expansion of creative economy. The report suggests 'establishment of creative economy through promotion of industrial linkages and integration between Korean and the MENA healthcare sectors' as a policy vision of their bilateral medical cooperation. Policy goals and actions are proposed in the division of three areas: industrial linkages and integration, professional manpower capability building and localization of Korea-based technology and hospital management systems. First, government policies should be implemented so that the healthcare sector could enhance industrial synergies between medical service sectors and manufacturing sectors including medical devices and pharmaceutical products. The healthcare sector should also increase integration effects with other enabling industries including consulting services, ICT, finance, etc. Korean hospitals and manufacturers should strengthen cooperative relations with global top hospitals and enterprises to penetrate into the MENA markets utilizing global brands. Second, lack of professionals like nurses, medical device engineers, ICT programmers etc. could prevent the MENA countries from developing the healthcare sector even though advanced facilities are established. Thus, vocational education and training program should be promoted with establishment of medical colleges and training centers. Exchange of professionals between Korea and the MENA could enhance mutual understanding of differing institutions, policies and markets. Third, medical aid to public healthcare system in the rural areas could increase brand values of Korean medical technology and products. Small and medium sized hospitals specialized in chronic diseases in the region have favourable conditions in publicizing new brands in the initial stage of localization. Also, cultural and religious factors should be emphasized including food and prayer facilities. In the longer term, joint manufacturing projects could be considered a key policy tool to create jobs and strengthen industrial cooperation in the private sector.