보건복지부 영문홈페이지

Minister Rim Chemin discusses ways to cooperate on dementia and elderly-friendly industries with his Swedish counterpart

- Proposed a joint project to develop a dementia vaccine through clinical testing with Sweden –

- Proposed expanded cooperation on welfare during a forum on low birthrates and aging -

Minister of Health and Welfare Rim Chemin met with his Swedish counterpart Maria Larsson in Stockholm on August 30^th (Thursday) to discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation on health and welfare.

The minister proposed to promote a joint project to develop a vaccine for dementia and elderly-friendly products, and to sign a memorandum of understanding in order to systemize bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

-       Discussions on developing a dementia vaccine are aimed at brisk exchanges among brain experts and researchers from Swedish Brain Power and Korea’s central dementia center. Sweden boasts advanced technologies in brain research as the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm announced that it found positive effects in a dementia vaccine from clinical research.

-       Further discussions will be held regarding the development of elderly-friendly products, and the Korean government proposes to encourage local companies and Swedish corporations to submit their ideas, possibly through joint work, by holding a government-run contest of related products coming from research and development projects.

On the same day in his keynote speech during the Korea-Sweden forum on low birth rates and aging, the minister proposed to open a new chapter in bilateral cooperation on health and welfare.

This forum discussed solutions to the common challenges from demographic change between health authorities of Sweden, a representative welfare state, and Korea, which is facing rapid aging of the population.

Mentioning that low birth rates and aging are a worldwide agenda, Minister Rim Chemin introduced Korea's policies and efforts to foster family-friendly conditions and raise the quality of life after retirement.

In addition, the minister emphasized the importance of the joint efforts in taking on countermeasures against aging, securing financial soundness, as well as achieving economic growth, and proposed to annualize the joint forum between Korea and Sweden and hold it alternately in each country.

Experts on population and dementia from both nations had heated debates during this year's forum on the subjects of “countermeasures on low birth rates and aging policies,” and “national strategies on dementia and silver welfare.”

Also, the SymbioCare Expo was held at the forum so that visitors could take a look at the current status of Sweden’s elderly-friendly medical appliances and services.

Since the 1930's, Sweden has categorized unprecedented demographic changes as a crisis level phenomenon and has continuously made an effort to embody a sustainable welfare model.

It is expected that sharing policy experience and periodical exchanges with Sweden will be helpful in upgrading Korea’s countermeasures on low birth rates and aging.