[Reporter’s View] KRPIA's new BOD signifies fresh starts

Following its fresh start with new staff members and a restructured board of directors, KRPIA is stabilizing its operations.

 

Previously, Korean Research-based Pharmaceutical Industry Association (KRPIA) faced increasing concerns regarding its operations, primarily involving leadership vacancy.

 

The decrease in the number of board members can be explained by reassignments of CEOs in multinational companies, but the frequent resignations of high-ranking officials, including the Head of Policy Business, Kim Min-Young, have sparked inquiries into the association's responsibilities and functions, resulting in criticisms.

 

KRPIA's operations in the New Year signals a new beginning.

 

Beginning in February, Choi In-Hwa, currently serving as the Access & Policy Cluster lead at Roche Korea, will assume the role of KRPIA’s Head of Policy Business, which has remained vacant for a year.

 

Choi graduated from the College of Pharmacy at Ewha University and began her career as a public pharmacist at the Central Pharmaceutical Affairs Council (CPAC) within the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS).

 

Following this role, Choi held positions at Boryung Pharmaceutical, Taejoon Pharmaceutical, and Roche since 2001, accumulating over 20 years of experience in managing policy-related responsibilities, including Market Access (MA) and Regulatory Affairs (RA).

 

Among the MA managers, Choi is called the ‘big sister.’ KRPIA's board of directors currently consists primarily of Korean nationals.

 

Out of the 13 members, which includes KRPIA chairman Dong-Wook Oh, who is the CEO of Pfizer Korea, only two are foreign nationals, resulting in Korean members making up 85% of the board.

 

This trend can be attributed to multinational pharmaceutical companies appointing Koreans as CEOs for their Korean branches instead of foreign nationals, consequently shaping the board of directors as Korean members in the majority.

 

Junil Kim (CEO of Astellas Pharma Korea), JinA Lee (CEO of Bayer Korea), and Albert Kim (CEO of MSD Korea) are Koreans who were newly appointed last year.

 

Among them, Albert Kim holds Canadian nationality.

 

Two new members, Maurizio Borgatta (CEO of GSK Korea) and Christoph Hamann (Merck Korea), are the only foreign nationals.

 

The growing presence of Korean leadership within KRPIA does not necessarily imply that it is the best approach.

 

However, it is worth noting that KRPIA is currently navigating a crucial and significant period in its history.

 

It is reasonable for the KRPIA CEO position to be held by a Korean national, especially considering that multinational pharmaceutical companies are involved in the distribution of new drugs.

 

The CEO's primary responsibility often involves communication with departments responsible for overseeing the drug pricing system in Korea.

 

Especially now, multinational pharmaceutical companies tend to focus on high-priced drug pipelines, and the successful listing of these drugs often hinges on effective communication skills with the government.

 

Additionally, departments within the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) often favor communication with Korean leaders, further emphasizing the importance of having a Korean national in key positions.

 

Choi's appointment is indeed promising.

 

As she prepares to step down from her role at Roche Korea at the end of this month, her status as a high-ranking official places her in a prominent position for effective communication.

 

She will play a crucial role in engaging not only with association members but also with government departments across various aspects of the pharmaceutical industry.

 

KRPIA is entering a new era of operation, and there is a hope that it will focus on ‘enhancing patient access’ through rational and innovative negotiations with the MOHW, in addition to its role in managing drug pricing.