Gov’t pushes 3-D printing as game changer for medicine

By Sohn JiAe
Photos = Prime Minister’s Office

Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn has stressed that, “High precision, customized medical treatment, coupled with high-end technologies, has grown by leaps and bounds over recent years.”

The acting president made his remarks during a visit to the ASAN Institute for Life Sciences, part of the ASAN Medical Center, in Seoul on April 11. “This will shift the paradigm for patients in getting treatment for their diseases, for sure,” he said.

As he browsed through the 3-D printed medical appliances and prosthetics, he said, “Developed countries all around the world have seen our 3-D printing as being a core technology that will lead innovation in the manufacturing industry, and that we have carried out a set of country-level policies to develop such technologies.”

“Many experts are now eyeing medical and biomedical treatments based on 3-D printing, methods that have great potential for big growth in the future,” he said.

“The government will work together with individuals from the medical field, from hospitals, medical device manufacturers, and research institutes, so as to get rid of any hurdles that might be in the way of further development in the industry,” said Hwang. “We will spare no efforts to support the development and practical use of advanced medical technologies at the government level.”

Last year, the government laid out a plan to promote 3-D printing as part of an effort to revitalize the medical industry. The plan focused on “support for growing 3-D technology markets by means of creating demand,” “strengthened competitiveness,” “enhanced infrastructure, such as fostering professional manpower” and, lastly, “consolidating the institutional framework.”

jiae5853@korea.kr