politics
Posted on 02.16.2024 at 7.05pm Modified on 02.16.2024 at 7.33pm
The law on “delivery of medicines” was introduced in the National Assembly for the first time
Non-face-to-face medical treatment platform industry welcomes
Opposition from the pharmacist group is likely to be fierce
President Yoon Seok-yeol speaks at the “Debate on People’s Livelihood – Seventh, Digital Coexistence, Protection of People’s Rights” held at the 2nd Pangyo Techno Valley Business Support Hub in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi- su, the 30th. A bill allowing online “drug delivery,” essential to expanding face-to-face care provided by the Office of the President, is presented to the National Assembly for the first time. This is to loosen regulations so that prescription drugs can be delivered without having to visit a pharmacy. After President Yoon Seok-yeol pointed out at last month’s People’s Livelihood Debate that “the public is experiencing inconvenience due to restrictions on remote delivery of medicines,” the ruling party is expected to soon propose a related amendment to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act.
According to the political world, on the 16th, People Power Party lawmaker Cho Myung-hee, member of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, has prepared a revision of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law and is gathering legislators to participate in the joint proposal. Rep. Cho’s bill calls for expanding the receipt of prescription drugs, which is currently only possible through face-to-face contact with a pharmacist, to “methods that utilize remote communication devices.” Under current law, “verbal medication guidance from a pharmacist” is required to receive medications, but this has now been made possible non-face-to-face.
Current law prohibits the sale of medicines in places other than pharmacies or shops. Representative Cho stated that the exception clauses here are △ when drugs dispensed by the pharmacy are delivered to the patient according to a prescription issued in accordance with the procedures and methods prescribed by the Presidential Decree other than face-to-face, △ when over-delivered to the patient over-the-counter medicines sold in pharmacies or shops and a new practice was created. It is established that prescriptions can be received not in person.
Meanwhile, the non-face-to-face medical treatment platform industry has raised its voice to enable drug delivery. Currently, as the government is conducting a pilot project, anyone can receive face-to-face medical treatment via video or other methods at night and on holidays. However, after in-person treatment, prescription medications must be received in person at the pharmacy. Home collection is only possible for some exceptions, such as islands, remote areas and people with mobility problems. The problem is that if you receive treatment in attendance at night or on holidays, you cannot receive medicine because most pharmacies are closed. For this reason it was emphasized that it was a “half-face treatment not face-to-face”. Additionally, there have been many requests to allow medicine delivery from office workers and dual-income families who prefer in-person treatment because it is difficult to get to the pharmacy or hospital during the day on weekdays.
President Yoon also pointed out during last month’s People’s Livelihood Debate: “The government is continuing face-to-face medical care in the form of a pilot project, but there are still complaints and regrets, such as limiting the delivery of remote medicines.” In line with this, the People Power Party also proposed pushing to “significantly expand non-face-to-face care” and “allow delivery of medicines from public pharmacies late at night” as election pledges. general this month.
However, pharmacist groups oppose the delivery of medicines due to problems such as misuse of medicines. A series of bills to institutionalize face-to-face medical care have been proposed in the National Assembly by both ruling and opposition parties, but discussions have stalled due to opposition from lawmakers who are former pharmacists.
Reporter Seol Ji-yeon sjy@hankyung.com
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