Protecting the Protectors: Why Mandatory Infectious Disease Education is a Game-Changer for Civil Servants
Infectious Disease Education Now Mandatory for Korean Civil Servants
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has announced that infectious disease education will be mandatory for civil servants and employees of national and local governments starting September 15th, in accordance with the revised Infectious Disease Prevention and Management Act.
The decision to make infectious disease training compulsory for all public officials was made to address the limitations of central administrative agencies and local government officials in responding to COVID-19, and to proactively prepare for future infectious disease crises.
Through infectious disease education, the agency aims to improve the integrated national response capability to minimize the damage to public officials from infection in times of crisis, maintain government functions, and establish a rapid and appropriate response system.
Those subject to mandatory education are government officials and employees of national and local governments, and employees of public institutions. They can complete infectious disease education using the curriculum provided by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
Infectious disease education should include the infectious disease crisis response system and related laws and regulations, major cases related to infectious disease outbreaks and crisis response. The education can be completed through group education, online education, or e-learning courses supported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
The required completion hours are differentiated between general and core personnel. General public officials must complete at least 1 hour of infectious disease education annually, while public officials belonging to local health care institutions and health clinics must complete at least 4 hours. Epidemiological investigation team members must complete at least 10 hours of infectious disease education annually.
Institutions that are required to provide mandatory infectious disease education must conduct the education every year and submit the results to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency by February 28 of the following year. However, 2024 will be operated as a pilot period, and mandatory completion of hours and performance reporting obligations will be applied from 2025.
Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Ji Young-mi emphasized the importance of infectious disease education, saying, “If the understanding of infectious diseases and crisis response is improved through infectious disease education, we will be able to respond more effectively and systematically when an infectious disease crisis occurs in the future.”