10th DREC members to be appointed next year

4일 12차 약평위는 9기 위원들로 구성

추천 절차 지연으로 3개월 길어진 임기

The appointment of members for the 10th term of the Drug Reimbursement Evaluation Committee (DREC), which assesses the appropriateness of drug reimbursements, is expected to be delayed until next year.

The 12th committee meeting held today (4th) will see the existing 9th-term members participate as usual. The Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) is currently conducting personnel verification procedures, including checking administrative disciplinary records, prior to appointing the 10th-term members, with appointments expected soon.

Although the 9th-term members' official two-year term ended last September, their tenure has been extended due to delays in recommending and appointing the 10th-term members.

DREC members are appointed after receiving around 70 recommendations from professional medical societies and organizations. The Korean Pharmaceutical Association may also recommend one member.

The committee consists of approximately 105 members. Once the HIRA appointments are finalized, various subcommittees, such as the Pharmacoeconomic Evaluation Subcommittee and the Risk-Sharing Agreement Subcommittee, will also be newly reorganized.

Seventy-six members were appointed for the 9th term. For the monthly DREC meetings, 20 members are randomly selected to participate.

Among the recommended DRED members, the following are excluded: ▲Those currently performing pharmacoeconomic evaluation-related services for pharmaceutical companies ▲Officers, employees, or practicing physicians/pharmacists of the recommending medical/pharmaceutical organization ▲Those deemed unable to perform duties impartially during the pre-appointment ethics screening ▲ Individuals with administrative sanctions or legal penalties within the last 5 years under the Medical Service Act, Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, National Health Insurance Act, or Medical Benefit Act ▲ those who have served as a DREC member for two or more consecutive terms.

Since HIRA is currently reviewing candidates’ administrative sanction histories, the committee may be fully reorganized with new members as early as January next year. The term of office is 2  years.

Additionally, HIRA revised the Drug Evaluation Committee regulations last July, changing the chairperson election method from an election by committee members to appointment by the HIRA Director. The authority to form subcommittees and elect subcommittee chairs was also transferred from the committee chair to the HIRA Director, an issue criticized during the National Assembly audit.

The number of individuals each organization (KMA, KPA, KSHP, etc.) can recommend for the candidate pool was also reduced from two to one..