[Ip-health] MOHW Proposes Reformation Bill for Drug Costs

[heeseob nam]

MOHW Proposes Reformation Bill for Drug Costs

[Maeil Business Newspaper ]

Ministry of Health and Welfare disclosed on July 25, that it proposed
a revised bill, which introduces a positive list system of health
insurance for medical supplies, in order to rationalize the cost of
medicine.

The amendment applies to select registered medical products. In doing
so, medical prices would be appropriately fixed.

MOHW has decided to delay the decision of the proposed bill until
September 24, bearing in mind that the U.S. is strongly opposed to
drug price rationalizations in the Korea-U.S. FTA.

In the next few months, MOHW plans to contemplate America's
suggestions regarding pharmaceutical products.

However, much conflict is expected during the upcoming third round
Korea-U.S. FTA negotiations, to be held in America on September 4.

If the proposed MOHW bill is enforced, it is possible that U.S.
pharmaceutical products would be excluded from being covered by the
health insurance and that drug prices will have to be fixed at a low
rate.

[Dong-eun Lee / RVR]


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