[Ip-health] Minister of Health Replaced by Pressure from Drug Companies?

[HeeSeob NAM]

From The Korea Herald July 13, 2002 (No. 15,151):

Lee Tae-bok of the Health and Welfare Ministry in Korea said in his
farewell statement that he was replaced because of lobbying by
multinational pharmaceutical companies. 

"I was on drug companies' hit list because I pushed to lower the price
of medicine as a way to reform the health care system," Lee said. "I
think my replacement was afffected by their lobbying efforts."

Cheong Wa Dae denied the allegation that pressure from drug companies
led to Lee's ouster. "The President replaced him to pormote the
government's welfare policy more aggressively and improve the quality
of life for middle-and low-income classes," a senior presidential
official said.

But GNP Charirman Suh Chung-won said his party will bring to light the
whole truth about the alleged prrssure from drug companies during a
meeting of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee.

Under Title "New cabinte generates controversy" Written By Shin
Yong-bae (Staff reporter, shinyb@koreaherald.co.kr) 
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Former Minister Mr. Lee is a well-known figure in the nation's labor
community. He first became involved in the nation's democratization
movement as a student at Kookmin University in 1970 when he served as a
ranking member of "Heungsadan," a civic group that dates back to the
Japanese colonial period.  Mr. Lee had since been involved in the
pro-democracy movement. He was imprisoned in 1981 upon conviction for
dissident activities. He was granted a special amnesty and released in
1988, two years after Amnesty International named him a "prisoner of
conscience." 

Mr. Lee, while in office, tried to re-evaluate and lower the price of
original drug to which a patent is expired.

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HeeSeob NAM
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