The government's drug price system improvement plan emphasizes rapid listing of rare disease therapies and oncology drugs. However, it still leaves institutional constraints for innovative medicines targeting common chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal disorders.
Experts argue that these chronic‑disease drugs, which affect large patient populations and can improve quality of life while reducing healthcare costs, need their value reassessed.
Professor Hong Seok‑cheol of Seoul National University’s College of Economics expressed this view at the forum “New Directions for Valuing Innovative Drugs for Sustainable Healthcare” held on the 4th at the National Assembly Members’ Hall.
He noted that the government’s proposals for faster listing and flexible contract pricing are steps forward, but further measures are required to address the systemic limitations for chronic‑disease innovations.
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