Health Policy Manag.  2020 Mar;30(1):4-14. 10.4332/KJHPA.2020.30.1.4.

The Mechanics between Accountability Concealment and Problem Solving of the Government Organization: Focused on the Humidifier Disinfectant Case

• Hyeon SH
• Lee MK

• KMID: 2507254
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4332/KJHPA.2020.30.1.4

Abstract

Since the government is fully aware of the specificity and importance of the healthcare field, it operates bureaucracy and affiliated organizations composed of many government ministries and experts and is also handling the related bureaus. However, recent incidents of humidifier disinfectant not only make these government activities unreliable but also cause disappointment to many people. Why did not the government take active measures to ensure product safety? But why was the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) able to speed up the identification of the cause and the recovery of the product? The purpose of this study is to clarify the behavioral mechanisms of government intervention by comparing the behaviors of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the KCDC. Then, we will discuss the desirable government structure.

Keyword

Humidifier disinfectant; Bureaucracy; Organization behavior