A Study on the Promotion of Public-Private Partnership to Respond to Infectious Diseases

Since the 20th century, the incidence of infectious diseases has been increasing owing to climate change, urbanization, and the convenience of movement. Countries worldwide have experienced great confusion in their response to COVID-19. At the same time, we also found that we can respond to pandemics more effectively when quarantine authorities and various social entities cooperate. Therefore, we compared and analyzed the early response cases of MERS and COVID-19 that we recently experienced. In particular, a comparative analysis was conducted on cooperative governance based on the participation of various social entities in disaster management. Cooperative governance is more effective when networks, roles and responsibilities, participation, and cooperation are well established. Accordingly, the cases of disaster response for infectious diseases were compared and analyzed with three key factors, and based on these, effective directions for revitalizing public-private partnerships were suggested. They are as follows: First, the government should strengthen support for existing disaster-related network organizations. Additionally, it is necessary to build a new network based on a smart society. Second, it is important to expand disaster education and training for disaster-related organizations and participants, strengthen intermediate support organizations, and expand the government's role in these areas. Finally, we present the importance of strengthening the system to form disaster-related private organizations that are centered on medical personnel, and expanding corporate participation.