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- 2025-12-17 06:52:51
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- Resolving patient data transparency
- by Jung, Heung-Jun Dec 03, 2025 08:42am
- Starting March next year, when the Integrated Care Support Act comes into effect, pharmacists participating in the polypharmacy management program will be able to access real-time medication histories for eligible patients.This addresses a previously noted limitation by enabling access to real-time patient information. Until now, information has been based on claims data, resulting in a time lag compared to actual prescription and dispensing information.Access to DUR-based real-time data is expected to mark a major turning point for multidisciplinary team-based care involving pharmacists.On the 26th, the Seoul Pharmaceutical Association co-hosted a National Assembly policy discussion forum with the offices of Democratic Party lawmakers Yoon Kim and In-soon Nam, focusing on medication management services in a super-aged society.During the general discussion session, the need to expand access to real-time patient information and increase pharmacist participation in multidisciplinary teams was raised to strengthen pharmacists’ medication management services.Jin-mi Jang, Director of the Seoul Pharmaceutical Association, said, “A government-led public data-based medication management system needs to be established. The issue can be resolved by enabling easy access to the excellent data held by the National Health Insurance Service and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Patient information must be viewable before visits.”Jang added, ” Sharing medication counseling results with medical institutions is also crucial. In the community-based model, prescription intervention through communication with medical institutions is impossible. System improvements are clearly needed."Jang also suggested expanding eligibility to basic livelihood security recipients and high-risk patients who receive prescriptions from multiple hospitals.Park Sang-won, CEO of Neulpum Value, who participated in Gwanak-gu’s integrated care pilot project, highlighted the need for robust data integration and the pharmacist’s role within multidisciplinary teams. Park said, “The patient's medication list is not being brought to the integrated support meetings. This makes it difficult for pharmacists to play their role within the meetings. Medication management must be part of the case review from the beginning.”Park also noted that integrated care frequently involves socially vulnerable individuals who are severely immobile or have limited health literacy, meaning pharmacists must be thoroughly prepared.Park added, “Data often differs from reality. Therefore, pharmacists' roles are essential on-site. Furthermore, managing performance indicators will be crucial starting next year, so we must determine how to demonstrate that pharmacist counseling contributed to patient health outcomes.”The National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), the operational agency for the polypharmacy management program, also recognized the need for patient information verification.Hyang-jung Park, Director of Health Support Programs at NHIS, stated, “We will link DUR-based medication history data to public MyData, enabling consulting pharmacists to access real-time information starting in March next year.”Park emphasized, "We need many pharmacists with advanced expertise. There is a specialized pharmacist for integrated medication management (in the national specialist pharmacist subjects). If it becomes reimbursable, qualifications may be required for fee-for-service pricing. We will communicate with relevant departments at the Ministry of Health and Welfare and strive to make the polypharmacy management project a pilot reimbursement program,“ and asked for pharmacists’ active participation.Hyun-jin Kang, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Pharmaceutical Policy Division, commented: “We agree on the importance of comprehensive medication management. However, we must continue discussing how to standardize and institutionalize it,” adding that the ministry will review the forum’s proposals with relevant departments.
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- Discussions on expanding emergency OTC drugs gain momentum
- by Kang, Hye-Kyung Nov 19, 2025 06:08am
- As civic groups continue to demand the expansion of emergency OTC medicines available in convenience stores, the National Assembly will hold a policy forum on the issue on the 28th. According to industry sources on the 18th, Rep. Ji-a Han of the People Power Party, a member of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee, will host a ‘Policy Discussion on Convenience Store Over-the-Counter Medicines to Promote Public Health’ on the 28th. Participants will include Soon-hyuk Kang, Director of the Division of Pharmaceutical Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare; Hye-ri Ahn, Secretary-General of the Consumer Network for Public Interest; and Chun-bae Park, Vice President of the Korean Pharmaceutical Association, who will represent the positions of their respective groups – the government, consumer groups, and the pharmacy community. Civil society groups advocating for expanding the list of over-the-counter emergency medicines and the convenience store industry are also showing great interest in the upcoming forum. Under a relevant system introduced in November 2012, up to 20 types of emergency OTC medicines may be designated for sale at convenience stores. However, civil society groups and the industry claim that only 13 items are actually designated as OTC medicines, and even among those, 2 items are currently suspended from sale. Although the system was initially designed to re-evaluate the designated items every 3 years, the Emergency OTC Medicines Review Committee has not convened since 2018, reportedly due to opposition from the Korean Pharmaceutical Association. At this year’s National Assembly audit, Rep. Han already highlighted both the need to expand the list and the prolonged delay in convening the review committee. Han argued that the system should be improved by easing the requirement for 24-hour year-round sales, removing the cap of 20 designated items, and establishing a solid legal basis for committee operations to prevent conflict between professional groups. In response, Minister of Health and Welfare Eun-kyeong Jeong stated, “The emergency OTC medicine system has been in place for over 10 years and must be updated to reflect current circumstances. We should first adjust the list of items or discontinue products that are no longer sold. Also, since there are no 24-hour convenience stores in areas without pharmacies, the 24-hour operation restrictions should be relaxed. We are preparing a comprehensive plan and are also consulting with organizations like the Korean Pharmaceutical Association.” The KPA maintains that issues in pharmacy-desert regions can be resolved through the “Special Locations for Pharmaceutical Handling” notice. This policy allows designated individuals to dispense or provide medications in locations with limited access to pharmacies—such as ships, aircraft, remote islands, or military bases.
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- KMA protests in front of the NA opposing INN prescribing
- by Kang, Shin-Kook Nov 17, 2025 06:10am
- Representatives of doctors nationwide gathered in front of the National Assembly on the 16th to protest the government’s push to mandate international nonproprietary name (INN) prescriptions and allow Korean medicine practitioners’ use of X-ray devices. The Korean Medical Association (KMA, President Taek-woo Kim) held a ‘National Doctors’ Assembly to Protect Public Health and Oppose Anti-Medical Laws’ in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, starting at 2 PM on the 16th. Following the rally, participants marched to the Democratic Party headquarters, voicing strong opposition to harmful medical legislation. Doctors KMA President Taek-woo Kim stated, “The issue of unstable drug supply is something the government must take responsibility for. Yet, instead of addressing that problem, the government is trying to use it as an excuse to enforce INN prescribing. The proposed bill even includes provisions for criminal punishment for physicians who do not comply — a completely unreasonable and excessive piece of legislation.” Kim added, “This is a clear anti-medical law that shatters trust between doctors and patients, threatens patient safety, and collapses the accountability structure. If drugs are substituted without a doctor's judgment simply because they contain the same ingredients, who will be responsible for the resulting erosion of doctors' prescribing authority and patient safety?” “Since the separation of medical and pharmaceutical services in 2000, we have steadfastly maintained the boundary between prescription and dispensing. However, the INN prescribing now being forced through by the National Assembly and the government is an act that clearly undermines the principle of separation of medical and pharmaceutical services upheld for over 20 years. Forcing ingredient-name prescriptions is tantamount to declaring the abolition of the separation of medical and pharmaceutical services.” He further pointed out, “The National Assembly is now pushing an absurd bill to include Korean medicine practitioners as responsible persons for the safety management of radiation-emitting devices. The idea of entrusting Korean medicine practitioners with the safety management responsibility for X-rays is a clear encroachment on the academic domain of medicine and erases the boundaries between professional licenses.” Kim declared, "The three major anti-medical initiatives — the revision of laboratory test regulations, the enforcement of generic prescriptions, and the allowance of X-ray use by Korean medicine practitioners — are not separate issues.. They represent the reckless policy rush of the National Assembly and government, which disregards public health and safety and brutally tramples on expert voices. We, as representatives of doctors nationwide, have gathered here to unite the anger and resolve of all 140,000 physician members and launch a comprehensive, powerful, all-out struggle to save healthcare in the Republic of Korea." Doctors Kyo-yoong Kim, Chair of the KMA Council of Delegates, also appealed, “The forced implementation of INN prescriptions is a harmful law that threatens patient safety and seriously infringes on doctors' prescribing rights. It must be immediately and permanently abolished.. Stop this irresponsible experiment right now, which could cause medication errors by using patient safety as collateral.” “If lawmakers insist on pushing through such an unjust bill, those who proposed and support it should be the first to apply it to themselves. If the true aim is public benefit and cost reduction, patients should be allowed to choose freely, and the healthcare system should transition to a one-stop in-hospital dispensing system rather than going through pharmacies.” Doctors The KMA adopted a resolution pledging to wage an all-out fight should the government and parliament proceed with enforcing INN prescribing or X-ray use by Korean medicine practitioners.
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- KMA forms special committee to block INN prescribing
- by Kang, Shin-Kook Oct 14, 2025 06:41am
- KMA President Taek-woo Kim The Korean Medical Association (KMA) has formed a special countermeasure committee to block the institutionalization of international non-proprietary name (INN) prescribing. This is seen as a response to demands by some delegates for an extraordinary general meeting. KMA (President Taek-woo Kim) said on the 13th, “Policies such as INN prescribing and changes to laboratory test consignment rules are being unilaterally promoted despite threatening patient safety.” He announced plans to launch a Pan-Medical Countermeasure Committee for National Health Protection (tentative name, “Countermeasure Committee” and to hold a nationwide delegates meeting at 5 p.m. on the 25th in the KMA hall’s main auditorium to unite the opinion of medical organizations. KMA argued, “INN prescribing is a system where only the generic name of the drug is written instead of the brand name prescribed by the physician, allowing pharmacists to arbitrarily substitute and dispense medications. This infringes upon the physician's medical judgment, which is the core of personalized prescriptions issued for patient treatment, and poses serious systemic risks threatening public health by causing drug side effects and treatment confusion.” It further contended, “The primary causes of the instability in drug supply mentioned in the proposed bill lie in various structural problems, such as the government's unilateral drug pricing structure, insufficient production lines at pharmaceutical companies, and shortages in raw material supply. This refers not just to the unstable supply of a single specific brand-name drug, but to the scenario where the supply of all drugs with the same ingredient (due to raw material shortages, etc.) is interrupted. Addressing this with INN prescribing is a completely illogical idea.” The KMA emphasized, “Choosing the dangerous and misguided method of INN prescribing while ignoring the fundamental problems causing drug supply instability is a declaration of abandoning public safety and lives.” Furthermore, the KMA strongly opposed the proposed changes to unilateral revision of laboratory-testing consignment rules, calling it an attempt to eliminate essential and primary medical care. The KMA stated, “The specimen testing outsourcing system being unilaterally pushed by the government is a one-sided measure that ignores the realities of the medical field. It is a detrimental change that effectively paralyzes the diagnostic testing functions of medical institutions, safeguarding essential and primary care. In July 2023, the Ministry of Health and Welfare responded that it planned to consult sufficiently with the medical community regarding issues such as the lack of distinction between fees for outsourcing and consignment institutions when setting fees related to the notice on standards for laboratory-testing consignment rules. Yet, breaking this promise is pushing the policy forward unilaterally.” The KMA emphasized that it will gather the entire medical community's resolve through the formation of the committee and hold a national meeting of physician representatives, vowing never to back down and fight to the end.
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- DP·gov't "INN prescriptions for supply shortage drugs"
- by Kim JiEun Oct 02, 2025 06:11am
- A public forum was held in the National Assembly to discuss the International Nonproprietary Name (INN) prescriptions. Civic groups, pharmacists, and healthcare experts have unanimously agreed that the government should consider implementing the system if it enhances patient choice and reduces national spending. The policy debate, titled 'Introduction of a Korean Model of International Nonproprietary Name (INN) prescriptions to Expand the Public's Choice of Dispensed Medicines,' took place at the National Assembly on September 30. The event was hosted by Democratic Party of Korea Representatives In-soon Nam, Young-seok Seo, Yoon Kim, and Jong-tae Jang, as well as Cho Kuk Innovation Party Representative Sun-min Kim. The Korean Pharmaceutical Association and the Research Institute for Pharmaceutical Policy also hosted it. The panelists agreed that the INN prescriptions should not be viewed merely as a dispute over vested interests between doctors and pharmacists. The priority, they stressed, should be identifying the system that best benefits patients, who are insurance subscribers, by increasing their right to choose medication, and the government should design the system accordingly. The governing parties and the government, who are the proponents of the system's introduction, stated that they agree on the necessity of the system for drugs with unstable supply and are currently pursuing it. However, they presented the prerequisite that public consensus on the need for the system must be formed first. Taek-woo Kim, President of the Korean Medical Association, conducted a solo demonstration directly outside the National Assembly gate to protest the introduction of INN prescriptions At the same time, the debate was being held inside the National Assembly, Taek-woo Kim, President of the Korean Medical Association, conducted a solo demonstration directly outside the National Assembly gate to protest the introduction of INN prescriptions, drawing attention. "Will Enhance Patient Choice and Fiscal Savings…The Best System Helps Patients" Sung-min Park, an associate professor at Seoul National UniversityIt was emphasized at the forum that the need to discuss INN prescriptions from the perspective of patient safety and the expansion of patient choice. Sung-min Park, an associate professor at Seoul National University's Graduate School of Public Health, said, "Brand-based drug labeling increases the risk of confusion and errors during prescribing, dispensing, and administration." He added, "There is a risk of prescribing and dispensing mistakes due to confusion with similar names. Patients also face a higher risk of mistakenly taking the wrong drug." Professor Park said, "When patients with multiple illnesses receive prescriptions from various medical institutions, there is a high possibility of being prescribed the same drug ingredient redundantly," and added, "If patients are unaware of the ingredients, they are more likely to overdose, and discarded unused drugs lead to unnecessary expenditure of National Health Insurance funds." Sun-Young Oh, Director of Policy at the Korean Health and Medical WorkersSun-Young Oh, Director of Policy at the Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union, emphasized, "The expected effect of introducing INN prescriptions is granting patients, as subscribers to the National Health Insurance, the right to choose their medication." She asserted, "Patients lack specialized knowledge about medicine compared to doctors and pharmacists. Creating an environment where patients can make choices must be prioritized. Furthermore, the system must be premised on the therapeutic equivalence of generics so that patients are not anxious about their choices." Oh also said, "Encouraging patient participation in and choice over the medication they take is the desirable direction for this system," adding, "It also has the advantage of reducing dependence on brand names, which is currently very high." "Not a dispute over interests between doctors and pharmacists… Key to Completing Separation of Prescribing and Dispensing" Kwang-min Lee, Vice President of the Korean Pharmaceutical Association, argued that the current brand-name prescribing practice prevents the fundamental intent of the Separation of Prescribing and Dispensing System from being realized. Kwang-min Lee, Vice President of the Korean Pharmaceutical AssociationLee stated that despite the government implementing policies such as deleting the prescription fee item from doctors' service fees and using a market-based actual transaction price reimbursement system for reimbursable drugs, these policies are rendered ineffective by brand-name prescribing. Furthermore, Lee also pointed out that brand-name prescribing directly influences prescribing behavior and healthcare utilization, citing the tendency for self-injectable drugs, such as obesity injections, to be dispensed directly by hospitals. Lee directly criticized the link between brand-name prescribing and illegal business practices by pharmaceutical companies, wholesalers, and CSOs, arguing that it leads to the misuse and abuse of medications. Lee said, "If INN prescriptions become implemented, patients will be able to conveniently receive dispensing services at pharmacies near their homes or workplaces, not just those near medical institutions." He added, "Even patients using multiple institutions for multiple illnesses can receive unified dispensing and medication guidance services from their regular pharmacy, rather than relying on pharmacies near each institution. This will also have the effect of reducing unnecessary drug use." Nam Eun-kyung Lee added, "In Korea, where alarms are sounding over the worsening financial health of the National Health Insurance, a system is needed to promote the use of cost-effective medicines during the prescribing and dispensing stages," and emphasized, "Generic prescribing should not be dismissed as merely a dispute over pharmacists' and doctors' interests; it must be designed with the public at the center to ensure the stability and sustainability of the domestic public health finances." A criticism was also raised that the government needs to take a clear stance on the doctors' argument against INN prescriptions that "even drugs with the same ingredients may differ in efficacy depending on the formulation (release mechanism, dosage form, excipients, etc.)." Nam Eun-kyung pointed out, "The government must clearly draw the line on the controversy over whether generics are different drugs or identical ones. By not formalizing its position, the government is causing unnecessary social conflict." Nam added, "Provided that safety and efficacy are not compromised, the public will agree to a policy that can save NHI funds. I understand that both the Democratic Party and the government are willing to put INN prescriptions on the public agenda. I hope a forum for public discussion involving doctors, pharmacists, and the public can be arranged." "INN prescriptions limited to supply shortage drugs still under discussion"…what do the governing party and government plan? What are the opinions of the National Assembly and the government regarding the highly debated INN prescriptions? Rep. Won-joon Cho, Senior Expert Member for Health and Welfare at the Democratic Party of KoreaThe ruling Democratic Party of Korea and the administrative ministry, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, both agreed on the necessity of introducing the system limited to supply shortage drugs. However, they drew a clear line, stating that widespread adoption of the system would require prior public consensus. Rep. Won-joon Cho, Senior Expert Member for Health and Welfare at the Democratic Party of Korea, explained, "The Tylenol shortage was one of the three major crises after COVID-19. Even in the National Assembly, there was an internal discussion about the need for INN prescriptions for a certain period, given the special circumstances of the pandemic, but it was not pursued," and added, "At that time, the burden of opposition from the medical community could not be overcome. It is from this perspective that a limited INN prescriptions was included in the Democratic Party's last presidential election pledge." Rep. Cho said, "Bills related to INN prescriptions are being introduced, and the National Assembly has plans to discuss institutional improvements and legal amendments." He added, "Various policy measures are being proposed to resolve drug supply instability in addition to the limited introduction of INN prescriptions. All these policy measures must be mobilized to resolve the recurring problem of drug supply instability as much as possible." Jun-hyuk Kang, Director of the Pharmaceutical Policy Division at the Ministry of Health and WelfareFurthermore, Cho added, "However, for the system to be introduced, it must be clearly explained how it will help the public." He concluded, "I believe the system's introduction can gain momentum when public consensus on its rationality and sustainability is formed." Jun-hyuk Kang, Director of the Pharmaceutical Policy Division at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said, "The government is viewing INN prescriptions from the perspective of the public's drug accessibility." He added, "While Korea has many pharmacies per capita, some administrative districts lack pharmacies, and the issue of drug accessibility has been raised due to unstable drug supply. INN prescriptions is one of the alternatives being discussed to resolve this." Kang said, "It is undesirable that this issue is being highlighted as a conflict between doctors and pharmacists," and added, "Doctors, pharmacists, and the public must discuss this to find a common ground." He concluded, "The government is preparing measures to simplify alternative dispensing and introduce INN prescriptions limited to supply shortage drugs. It seems necessary to conduct specific research on how to introduce INN prescriptions for supply shortage drugs. We understand that foreign countries encourage this through various methods, not necessarily mandating it. We also intend to review these aspects.
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- ‘Will promote phased implementation of INN prescriptions’
- by Kim JiEun Oct 01, 2025 06:10am
- Research Director Dae-Jin Kim, Korea Institute for Pharmaceutical Policy Affairs A study has shown that introducing an International Nonproprietary Name (INN) prescription system could save up to KRW 9 trillion annually in drug costs and related social expenses. At a policy forum on INN prescriptions held at the National Assembly on the 30th, Dae-jin Kim, Director of the Korea Institute for Pharmaceutical Policy Affairs (KIPPA), gave a presentation on “Plans for Introducing a Korean INN Prescription Model.” The forum was hosted by National Assembly members In-soon Nam, Young-seok Seo, Jong-tae Jang, Yoon Kim (Democratic Party of Korea), and Sun-min Kim (Rebuilding Korea Party), and organized by the Korean Pharmaceutical Association and KIPPA. Director Kim first pointed out that the excessive number of generic drug items in the domestic pharmaceutical market is increasing management costs and leading to waste in the National Health Insurance finances. As of January this year, 27.7% of all items had 61 or more products containing the same active ingredient. This directly leads to costs associated with stockouts, unused inventory, recalls, and disposal. He also criticized the structure where a non-differentiated generic industry is being sustained by health insurance finances. He further argued that the high proportion of expensive generics limits cost-saving effects, while the fact that most generic products are marketed under brand names reduces patients’ awareness of the active ingredient, creating communication difficulties between patients and healthcare professionals. This, in turn, heightens concerns about patient safety incidents. Criticism was also raised regarding restrictions on patient choice. Director Kim stated that the low generic substitution rate limits patients' opportunities to choose among medicines with the same ingredients and equivalent effects. Director Kim also presented the results of a survey on public awareness of INN prescribing. In this survey of 3,000 adult men and women residing in Korea, 18.3% reported experiencing drug shortages in the past year. Furthermore, in a survey on acceptance of the INN prescription system, 83.8% of respondents gave positive responses. Based on this domestic pharmaceutical situation and public perception, Director Kim proposed a Korean-style INN prescription model. He explained that its fundamental purpose is ‘to reduce national medical expenses and health insurance premiums while strengthening patient safety and rights’. Director Kim clarified that the definition of INN prescribing in this study refers to prescriptions that list only the ‘active ingredient code + INN + dosage form + strength’ without mentioning brand names. The application targets will be implemented in phases: Phase 1 covers ▲ingredient groups with unstable supply ▲ingredient groups frequently substituted during dispensing ▲the top 100 ingredient groups by claim volume. Phase 2 expands to 5 major efficacy groups (gastrointestinal, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia drugs, antibiotics, etc.), and Phase 3 extends to all pharmaceuticals. Prerequisites for the system were also outlined: ▲ Reducing domestic drug prices for identical ingredient groups to below the average price of overseas A8 countries ▲ Operating a National Health Insurance Service-recommended drug list and introducing differential co-insurance policies ▲ Improving the coninsurance system. Based on the research findings, Director Kim estimated the maximum annual economic effect of introducing this INN prescription system model at KRW 9.3641 trillion. This figure combines savings of KRW 7.9 trillion in drug costs and KRW 1.4741 trillion in reduced social costs. Director Kim stated, “It is necessary to prioritize applying this system to drug groups with high social demand and cost-effectiveness, then gradually expand the system thereafter. Above all, ensuring patients' right to know and their choice of medication is crucial. Measures to enhance patient access to information, such as utilizing mobile applications or electronic medication guides, can be considered.” He continued, “If fiscal efficiency measures like drug price reductions, differential copayments, and promoting generic competition are implemented alongside the system, they can contribute to reducing national health insurance expenditures. The INN prescription system, implemented in a Korean-style format, will be the core alternative. It strengthens patient safety and rights, reduces national medical expenses and health insurance premiums, and simultaneously addresses chronic issues in the domestic pharmaceutical market, such as the use of high-priced generics and excessive product variety.” Meanwhile, before the forum, the hosting lawmakers In-soon Nam, Young-seok Seo, and Jong-tae Jang each made remarks on the purpose and necessity of introducing the system. Rep. In-soon Nam said, “Public interest in INN prescriptions has grown since the COVID-19 pandemic prompted drug supply instability. I believe the introduction of INN prescriptions can be discussed not only as an alternative at the production and distribution stages related to supply instability issues, but also as an alternative at the prescription stage. Rep. Young-seok Seo said, “We must strive to ensure the system is implemented, considering whether it is necessary for the public and whether it should be introduced to improve the healthcare system. Given the current state of the global pharmaceutical market, supply instability is likely to worsen in the future. INN prescribing is expected to become a tool ensuring a stable drug supply and delivery to patients. I hope the pharmacy community can effectively persuade the public of this.” Korean Pharmaceutical Association President Young-hee Kwon emphasized, “INN prescriptions allow patients to know the ingredients of their medications and make rational choices, thus ensuring their right to choose and realizing the right to health. At the national level, it is also an alternative to reduce health insurance expenditure, secure sustainability, and expand coverage. From the perspective of public health and socioeconomics, it is an essential system demanded by the times.”
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- Generic substitutions and INN-based prescriptions on track
- by Kim JiEun Sep 04, 2025 06:12am
- The prolonged instability in drug supply has fueled momentum in the pharmacy community, with both streamlined generic substitutions and limited mandatory international nonproprietary name prescriptions gaining traction in the National Assembly. On September 2, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Jong-Tae Jang introduced amendments to the Medical Service Act and the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act. The proposed bill would create a legal definition for supply-unstable medicines and mandate ingredient name-based prescriptions for such drugs on a limited basis. This follows the passage of the so-called “Generic Substitution Activation Act,” recently approved by the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee, adding yet another long-pursued initiative of the pharmacy sector to the legislative agenda. The shift began with revisions to the enforcement regulations of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, which simplified the notification process for generic substitutions. Despite strong opposition from physicians, the Ministry of Health and Welfare pushed through the revision, allowing the HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service) online portal as one of the means for post-notifications. Even with doctors voicing concerns of “infringement of prescribing rights,” the government and the National Assembly have continued to push for regulatory revisions and legislation due to the persistent issue of drug shortages. The issue, which first emerged during the early COVID-19 period, have remained unresolved even 5 years after the pandemic subsided. Critics argue the government has failed to present a clear solution. As a result, consensus between the government and the National Assembly on the need to address drug shortages has directly driven attempts at systemic reform. During the last presidential election, the Democratic Party of Korea pledged to implement limited INN-based prescriptions for essential medicines as part of its project to secure a stable drug supply. This confirmed the Lee Jae Myung administration’s commitment to addressing the shortage issue. In its May policy platform, the Democratic Party of Korea included “promoting generic substitutions and limited ingredient-name prescriptions for essential drugs with unstable supply” under its measures to ensure stable access to essential medicines. The pharmacist community believes the streamlining generic substitution law will pass smoothly, given that regulatory changes have already been enacted. However, they remain cautious on mandatory INN-based prescriptions, anticipating fierce resistance from physicians. The Korean Medical Association is likely to intensify its opposition and pressure the government. A pharmacy association representative commented, “We welcome the fact that bills addressing drug shortages are being introduced and advanced with a sense of urgency. For years, responses to shortages have been nothing more than post-hoc measures. Now is the time for preventive and systemic solutions. Although past attempts at generic substitution and INN-based prescriptions repeatedly collapsed due to opposition from the medical community, we are hopeful that with shortages now recognized as a societal issue, this time will be different.”
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- Mounjaro arrives at pharmacies..₩310,000–350,000
- by Kang, Hye-Kyung Aug 21, 2025 06:07am
- Mounjaro (tirzepatide), which had been attracting considerable attention even before its arrival in Korea, has now been made available to pharmacies. With prescriptions also beginning on the 20th, pharmacies are bustling with activity. According to local pharmacies, two dosage forms, 2.5mg and 5mg, have begun arriving at pharmacies through wholesalers. Mounjaro Prefilled Pen 2.5mg, 5mg stocked at pharmacies A local pharmacist stated, “The 2.5mg and 5mg doses arrived this morning. Although no prescriptions have been made yet, we are receiving calls asking if the product has arrived. It seems that consumer interest is quite high.” The two main concerns for pharmacies are pricing and medication guidance. Mounjaro is priced in the ₩300,000 range, with the price lowest in Jongno at ₩290,000 ◆Prices vary between pharmacies, with the lowest price at KRW 290,000 = Since Mounjaro is a non-reimbursed drug, the price varies even between pharmacies. For this reason, pharmacies are struggling to set the initial price. According to telemedicine platforms, prices for 2.5mg in-hospital prescriptions at clinics range from KRW 320,000 to KRW 350,000 Pharmacies are pricing the medication between KRW 310,000 to KRW 350,000. While the number of pharmacies stocking Mounjaro is still limited, prices seem to be forming in the early to mid three hundred thousand won range. However, in Jongno, the price is set at KRW 290,000, which is the lowest price. ◆Medication guidance for Mounjaro?= Mounjaro comes in a package containing four single-use pre-filled pens. The outer case states, “Mounjaro is used once a week. Read the instructions carefully before using the medication and keep the instructions with the medication.” Mounjaro was approved as ▲an adjunct to diet and exercise therapy for improving blood glucose control in adult patients with type 2 diabetes; ▲an adjunct to low-calorie diet and exercise therapy for chronic weight management in adult patients; and ▲as an adjunct to a low-calorie diet and exercise therapy for the treatment of moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in obese adult patients with an initial body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or higher. When administered for weight management ▲Obese patients with an initial body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or higher ▲Overweight patients with an initial body mass index (BMI) of 27 kg/m² or higher but less than 30 kg/m² and one or more weight-related comorbidities such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, or cardiovascular disease, may use the treatment. The recommended starting dose is 2.5 mg subcutaneous injection once weekly, increased to 5 mg subcutaneous injection once weekly after 4 weeks, and maintained at that dose. The maximum dose is 15 mg subcutaneous injection once weekly. If a dose is missed, administer the missed dose as soon as possible within 4 days (96 hours) of the missed dose. If more than 4 days have passed, skip the missed dose and administer the next dose on the scheduled day. Mounjaro can be administered at any time of the day, regardless of meals, and should be administered as a subcutaneous injection in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. It is recommended to rotate (alternate) the injection site with each dose. The recommended that the injections are refrigerated at 2–8°C. If necessary, each single-use pen can be stored at a temperature not exceeding 30°C for up to 21 days without refrigeration. Do not freeze. If frozen, the medication should not be used and should be stored in its original container to protect from light. The most commonly reported adverse reactions include gastrointestinal disorders such as nausea (very common), diarrhea (very common), and vomiting (common). Generally, the severity of these reactions was mild or moderate, and occurred more frequently during dose escalation, and decreased over time. Meanwhile, Lilly Korea announced that it plans to first release 2.5 mg and 5 mg doses in Korea, but will also supply higher doses of 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg in accordance with patient demand. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety sent a notice to medical organizations and other relevant parties to prevent misuse of the drug following the release of Mounjaro. The MFDS emphasized, “Please prescribe and dispense the drug appropriately in accordance with the approved efficacy, dosage, and precautions for use. To prevent side effects and misuse, please provide accurate information about the drug (efficacy, dosage, and precautions for use) to the patients and instruct them on how to take the drug.”
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- Mounjaro set to hit shelves next week... pricing a dilemma
- by Jung, Heung-Jun Aug 13, 2025 06:07am
- With the imminent arrival of the diabetes and obesity treatment Mounjaro (tirzepatide) in Korea, pharmacies are struggling to set an appropriate price for the item. Due to the nature of high-priced non-reimbursable drugs, there are regional price differences, and price competition is expected in the future, so pharmacies are showing a cautious stance on their initial sales price. Recently, some distributors notified pharmacies of Mounjaro ‘s supply schedule for the 20th and surveyed the pharmacies’ willingness to handle the product to anticipate demand. Additionally, telemedicine platforms are guiding affiliated clinics and pharmacies to input their planned selling prices. Like Wegovy, Mounjaro’s supply price was disclosed before its domestic launch. However, unlike Wegovy, the supply price varies by dosage. While there may be minor differences depending on the distributor, the prices are currently set at KRW 278,000 for 2.5mg and KRW 369,300 for 5mg. The prices for the upcoming 7.5mg and 10mg doses are reported to be KRW 521,300. Pharmacists are expected to monitor the prices set by nearby clinics and pharmacies before determining their own sales prices. Pharmacist A from Seoul stated, “Based on the 2.5mg dosage, the price is expected to range from the mid-300,000 KRW to the 400,000 KRW bracket. Although distribution is scheduled for next week, we have not yet decided whether to carry the product, as we are unsure whether hospitals will issue outpatient prescriptions.” Pharmacist A added, “Although both products are used for obesity treatment, their mechanisms of action are different, so it is not appropriate to simply compare their dosage and price.” In the case of Wegovy, the selling price, which was in the range of KRW 500,000 to KRW 600,000 when it was first launched in Korea, gradually decreased, and the price was adjusted. In the case of obesity treatments, price information is quickly shared through telemedicine platforms and communities, so even among non-reimbursable drugs, the sales price can fluctuate greatly. Some pharmacists are hesitant to handle the drug because the supply price is known and there is a risk that it could become dead stock. Pharmacist B from Seoul stated, “It has a competitor, so it's difficult to predict how much demand there will be for Mounjaro, so we're waiting to see how demand develops. We also have remaining stock of Saxenda and Wegovy. Price competition is intense, so expanding our inventory can be a burden.”
- Product
- Wegovy supply price cut by 40%... to counter Mounjaro
- by Kang, Hye-Kyung Aug 13, 2025 06:06am
- The supply price for Wegovy will be reduced by approximately 40% starting on the 14th. Refund measures are also expected to be implemented for pharmacies with inventory. Novo Nordisk notified pharmacies and other relevant parties of the changes through Julic and other channels. According to Dailypharm's coverage, the prices for four dosage forms—0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1.0mg, and 1.7mg—will be reduced, excluding the highest dosage of 2.4mg. The previous single price system will be replaced with a tiered pricing system based on dosage, with the 0.25mg starting dosage set to receive a price cut of around 40%. Once the price reductions are implemented, the purchase prices for pharmacies and clinics will be around KRW 220,000. However, to prevent confusion in medical and pharmacy settings, the specific price reduction rates will not be disclosed. Refunds for existing inventory held by pharmacies will also be processed according to established procedures. Details regarding refund procedures and amounts per pharmacy will be communicated sequentially through Zuellig Pharma sales representatives and the suppliers. Some have speculated that the price reduction policy for Wegovy may be in response to the upcoming launch of Mounjaro this month. Mounjaro, which is expected to be launched around mid-month, will apply tiered pricing across six dosage forms, with the starting dosage being approximately KRW 100,000 cheaper than Wegovy. However, Novo Nordisk stated that it had been reviewing a tiered pricing policy by dosage for a long time after the launch and had decided to switch from a uniform single price system to a tiered pricing system by dosage. A Novo Nordisk representative said, “We decided to lower the shipping price and notify customers to minimize confusion among distributors, pharmacies, and patients who have been prescribed the drug.” They added, “In supplying innovative treatments like Wegovy, we prioritize treatment continuity and accessibility for Korean obesity patients as our top principle, and this principle also applies when determining the shipping price of the treatment. We will continue to strive to improve the obesity treatment environment in Korea through a patient-focused approach.”
