[2021 National Audit] After Allowing Non-Face-to-Face Prescriptions, Zolpidem Prescriptions Doubled

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Amid the temporary allowance of non-face-to-face medical consultations (telephone consultation prescriptions) due to COVID-19, it has been revealed that prescriptions for zolpidem, classified as a narcotic medical product, have more than doubled.

According to an analysis of data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service by Jeong Chun-sook, a member of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, on the 6th, the number of prescription statements (prescription counts) for zolpidem in non-face-to-face consultations increased 2.0 times last year and 2.3 times this year compared to face-to-face consultations. The total number of prescriptions for other narcotic drugs also increased by 1.6 times last year and 1.7 times this year.

The amount of narcotic drugs prescribed per prescription increased by 1.7 times last year and 1.4 times this year, while zolpidem increased by 1.2 times last year and 1.1 times this year.

In particular, compared to 2019 before non-face-to-face consultations were implemented, the total number of people prescribed narcotics last year decreased by 8.3%, while the amount prescribed increased by 5.0%. Regarding this, Assemblywoman Jeong stated, "It is analyzed that the relatively higher medical use related to narcotic prescriptions in non-face-to-face consultations and the larger amount prescribed per prescription influenced this."

From February 24 last year, when non-face-to-face prescriptions were allowed, until the end of July, a total of 3,300 people were prescribed narcotics, and the total number of narcotic medical products they used was 617,484. Among them, 1,345 people (40.8%) received prescriptions two or more times, accounting for 483,243 items (78.3%) of the total usage.

For zolpidem during the same period, 4,633 people received non-face-to-face prescriptions, and 471,780 items were used. Among them, 2,724 people (58.8%) were repeat users, accounting for 429,823 items (91.1%) of the total usage. Notably, 252 people received prescriptions 17 times or more during this period.

Jeong Chun-sook, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea (Photo by Jeong Chun-sook)

Assemblywoman Jeong Chun-sook said, "Since non-face-to-face medical consultations allow easy access to multiple hospitals and clinics, it is necessary to exclude narcotics and other drugs with abuse concerns from non-face-to-face prescriptions," and added, "It is essential to evaluate side effects and dependency in patients receiving long-term prescriptions of zolpidem." She also emphasized, "Non-face-to-face prescriptions for non-reimbursed drugs may not filter out duplicate prescriptions at the time of prescribing or dispensing, so special caution is needed for non-face-to-face medical use by adolescents and others."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.