Strengthening national communicable disease control system in Korea for local and global health.

초록

Since the early 1990s, Korea has made efforts to strengthen National Communicable Disease Control System to work out countermeasures to communicable diseases. Dr. Park and Dr. Lee explained these efforts in detail. I believe that these efforts will contribute to the preparedness for and response to the global threat of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Recently, Korea CDC has developed goals for communicable diseases control as a part of Korean Health People 2010. This work was intensively carried out from September to December in 2005. Many experts and professionals of KCDC, universities and institutes participated the work and developed 40 specific objectives in six fields of communicable disease control. In the course of this work, items for further research were identified in each field. These items consist of basic, epidemiological and operational research. Hereafter, they should be classified according to priority and a plan developed for carrying out. These research outcomes will contribute to strengthening the National Communicable Disease Control System. I think that Korea should make more sustained efforts to enhance the National Communicable Disease Control System. With these efforts, we can accumulate the scientific knowledge and technology, and develop the control programs by translating the knowledge and technology. These efforts will be the basis to actively participate in improving the global health of all. We know that our knowledge and technology are incomplete and limited. So, we should carry out many researches and developments to prepare for and respond to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. However, it is also important to use the current knowledge and technology we have for all of us in this global community.