[Reporter's View] Can NA resolve the drug shortage issue?

Can the National Assembly resolve the issue of drug shortages on its own?

Whether the four bills presented for amendments to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act aimed at resolving the shortage of medicines will be discussed at the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee in August is gaining attention.

 

The amendments to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act were proposed by Rep.

 

Jeong-ae Han, Rep.

 

Yoon Kim, and Rep.

 

Mi-hwa Seo of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Rep.

 

Sun-min Kim of the Rebuilding Korea Party.

 

Rep Jeong-ae Han’s bill proposes the establishment of a supply management committee involving both the public and private sectors, as well as the designation of “medicines with unstable supply” and the establishment of regulations for emergency production and import orders.

 

Rep Yoon Kim's bill includes medicines with temporary supply shortages or sudden increases in demand as “medicines subject to stable supply management,” and allows medical professionals and relevant institutions, and organizations to participate in the National Essential Medicines Supply Stability Council.

 

Rep.

 

Mi-hwa Seo's bill focuses on including medications without alternatives as National Essential Medicines and implementing constant monitoring.

 

Rep.

 

Sun-min Kim’s bill includes medications with temporary supply shortages or sudden increases in demand in the “stable supply management targets” category and seeks to allow medical professionals and institutions/organizations to participate in the National Essential Medications Supply Stability Council.

 

All four amendments were positively received as they presented their own solutions to stabilize the supply of medicines.

 

Considering the repeated medicine shortages and supply disruptions that arose over the past few years, they were also deemed timely.

 

If the bills are submitted and pass the Health and Welfare Committee review, they are likely to be processed through the Legislative and Judiciary Committee and handled during the September regular session of the National Assembly.

 

If this process is realized, it is expected to provide a significant boost to resolving the medicine supply shortage that has been recurring for several years.

 

Resolving the medicine supply shortage was a common campaign pledge made by both the ruling and opposition parties in the last presidential election.

 

Furthermore, except for the extent to which the international nonproprietary name prescriptions should be allowed, there does not seem to be much disagreement between the parties.

 

This means that now is the optimal time to discuss measures to resolve the medicine supply shortage.

 

However, it is necessary to carefully review whether there are any aspects that have not been included in the revised bill.

 

In particular, the pharmaceutical industry has consistently demanded fundamental solutions for increasing the self-sufficiency rate of domestically produced raw materials for pharmaceuticals and strengthening incentives for the production of low-profit essential drugs, which require urgent attention.

 

There are calls for the need to establish practical supply chain strengthening policies that go beyond simply expanding the scope of items subject to supply instability and forming a consultative body.

 

Fundamental measures are needed to overcome low productivity and a weak supply structure.

 

The government should also consider expanding public reserves and establishing a digital-based real-time monitoring system.

 

Overseas cases are also worth noting.

 

The United States operates a Drug Shortage Task Force to maintain an early warning and supply substitution system.

 

The European Union (EU) operates a system to jointly manage and stockpile about 200 essential drugs.

 

Japan is known to operate a system to reevaluate the prices of low-profit products that cause deficits, focusing on essential drugs.

 

These countries share the common feature of active government intervention to expand supply and promote corporate participation.

 

The current parliamentary discussion presents an opportunity to address critical issues that can no longer be postponed.

 

It must serve as the starting point for developing practical solutions.

 

This rare opportunity must not be wasted.

 

Instead of half-hearted measures, a clear direction that ensures supply stability that both citizens and the pharmaceutical industry can feel must be presented this time.