Platforms promote Wegovy's lowest price is ₩390,000

Non-face-to-face platforms promote lowest price of non-reimbursed drugs… face potential backlash

Non-face-to-face platforms present a ‘real bargain price level’ for non-reimbursed drugs

Pharmacists, “the posted sales prices are lower than the pharmacy’s purchase cost, causing confusion”

Non-face-to-face treatment platforms are facing backlash from pharmacies after launching activities promoting the lowest prices for non-reimbursable drugs.

 

Doctornow, a leading non-face-to-face medical consultation platform, is being criticized for encouraging price competition for non-reimbursable drugs and causing confusion among consumers.

 

A local pharmacist stated, “Recently, Doctornw has posted promotional content on its social media accounts, such as ‘How to buy diet injections for KRW 200,000 less,’ 'The real way to buy semaglutide diet injections for KRW 390,000,‘ and 'Hair loss medication consultation fee + medication cost: KRW 9,060.’ I believe this is likely to cause distrust and confusion among consumers toward pharmacies.” For example, in a video titled ‘How to buy diet injections for KRW 200,000 less,’ it says, 'Wow!

 

I used to buy weight-loss injections for KRW 600,000, but I was paying KRW 200,000 more.

 

If you don't know the latest way to buy diet injections cheaply, you're losing out 100%.

 

If you know this method, you can get a prescription for KRW 200,000 less, at an unbelievable price!“ The video states that all you need is to access Doctornow.

 

The video explains that you can find the lowest price at a pharmacy near you by clicking ”Find a Pharmacy,“ then clicking ”Get a Prescription" to select a nearby and affordable doctor, going to the hospital for a consultation, and then getting the injection at the lowest-priced pharmacy.

 

However, the video has been criticized for causing consumer distrust and confusion about pharmacies.

 

This pharmacist said, "Doctornow claims that the real price for semaglutide diet injections is KRW 390,000.

 

It suggests that pharmacies are taking a middleman margin.

 

However, the purchase price of the semaglutide diet injection, Wegovy, far exceeds the 390,000 won suggested by Doctornow.” When credit card transaction fees are added to the purchase price, it is practically impossible to meet the criteria for ”buying cheaply and well" suggested by Doctornow.

 

When Dailpharm searched for the lowest price of Wegovy on Doctornow, the price varied depending on the region, but was usually over KRW 430,000.

 

It was found that there are pharmacies in the Gyeonggi area that sell the drug for KRW 394,000 and KRW 395,000, but in the Gyeongsangbuk-do, Chungcheongbuk-do, and Gyeongsangnam-do areas, the price of the non-reimbursable injectable was set around KRW 430,000 to KRW 450,000.

 

Doctornow also presented KRW 9,060 as the lowest hair loss medication consultation fees available.

 

Another pharmacist said, “There are differences between pharmacies when it comes to the price of non-reimbursable drugs.

 

However, I think it is problematic under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act for non-face-to-face consultation platforms to arbitrarily set the lowest price and misrepresent it as the ‘standard’.

 

Shouldn't sanctions be imposed on the platform for such excessive promotional activities?” Pharmacists also voiced concerns about the institutionalization of telemedicine, as the majority of non-face-to-face prescriptions made are for non-reimbursable drugs for cosmetic purposes.

 

According to a survey conducted by the Guro District Pharmaceutical Association and the Jungnang, Gwangjin, and Gangdong District Pharmaceutical Associations among their members, 46% of pharmacists stated that they had accepted non-face-to-face prescriptions in the past three months.

 

When asked about the proportion of non-face-to-face prescriptions for cosmetic purposes, such as hair loss, weight loss, and eye drops, among the prescriptions received, over 80% of respondents answered that they accounted for the majority of non-face-to-face prescriptions.

 

The associations stated that the majority of pharmacists who accepted non-face-to-face prescriptions in the last three months responded that they were for cosmetic purposes.

 

We are concerned about the reality that non-face-to-face medical consultations are being used as a means to purchase non-reimbursable drugs for cosmetic purposes, such as hair loss, diet, and eye drops, which deviates from the original purpose.

 

We believe that non-face-to-face prescriptions for cosmetic purposes should also be excluded or restricted by the system, similar to psychotropic drugs.” Meanwhile, during her confirmation hearing as nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare, Eun-kyung Jeong stated, “The institutionalization of telemedicine should be aimed at ensuring the stability of medical care and improving primary care, rather than expanding platform profits.

 

During discussions with the National Assembly, appropriate regulatory measures should be discussed to address concerns that platforms will effectively take over clinics and pharmacies or promote profit expansion.”