Regulatory Updates

The National Assembly approved a pharmacist law amendment limiting pharmacy names that could encourage excessive drug use; the Health Ministry issued a supporting statement.

Lawmaker Baek Jong-heon introduced a bill to replace the term “delinquent disposition” with “forced collection” in the National Health Insurance Act, correcting a six‑year inconsistency with the National Tax Collection Act.

85 drug items with rising claims or usage are expected to face price cuts or adjustments next month after PVA results with the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service.

Civil society health groups in South Korea denounced the Lee Jae‑myung administration’s plan to fully expand telemedicine drug delivery, urging investment in public medical infrastructure instead.

The government plans to discuss expanding medication delivery for all telemedicine users, but the pharmacist association protests, citing premature implementation of the revised medical law.

The Korean government plans to broaden pharmacy information provided to private telemedicine services from simple stock status to detailed purchase and dispensing quantities, prompting industry worries over data exposure.

The National Assembly is set to convene this week, focusing on the pending Pharmacy Name Restriction Act that would bar misleading pharmacy names, following recent network pharmacy and telemedicine restrictions.

Debate continues on whether to discuss further regulatory improvements for telemedicine‑based medication delivery before the system is launched, highlighting the need for legislative action.

From Sept 1, insurance reimbursement prices for 68 drugs in South Korea will drop, with reductions ranging from under 1% to over 20%; pharmacies must manage inventory differences and physical returns.

Bills to adjust minimum wage based on business size and to support at‑risk small retailers have been introduced, raising questions about impacts on Korean pharmacies.

South Korea’s MFDS imposed a fine on Green Cross after the company missed the deadline for a post‑marketing efficacy study required under the vaccine’s risk management plan.

President Lee Jae‑myung’s remarks on safe, medically supervised use of mifepristone prompted the government to revisit its approval, sending Hyundai Pharmaceutical’s shares to a limit, though experts caution approval is not guaranteed.