[2022 National Audit] Rep. Kim Min-seok, "Yoon Administration's Poor Response to Cold Medicine"

Increase in Influenza Cases from July, Influenza Advisory Issued in September, Twin-demic with COVID-19
Monitoring of Cold Medicine Supply Suspended in July
Supply of Cold Medicine Still Unstable as of October

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] On the 7th, Kim Min-seok, a member of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, pointed out that the government's 'Cold Medicine Rapid Response System' showed no results at all amid concerns of a twin-demic with COVID-19 and influenza spreading simultaneously.

Kim Min-seok, Democratic Party of Korea / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

On this day, Kim's office announced that as of the 6th, all 106 supply requests for acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, in the pharmaceutical supply guidance system were confirmed as 'unavailable items.'

Influenza, which had been declining since March, reached the highest level this year at 5.1 cases per 1,000 people in the second week of September, prompting an influenza advisory. The government began monitoring the supply status of cold medicines from March after a surge in COVID-19 patients earlier this year and a shortage of cold medicines, especially syrup-type cold medicines.

Kim said, "Monitoring was suddenly stopped in July, and the imbalance in cold medicine supply worsened," adding, "Although the rapid response system for cold medicines was resumed on August 8, it was useless."

According to the Korea Food and Drug Administration's report on cold medicine supply dated August 12, there are 181 companies and 1,839 items (as of August 1) of cold medicines used to alleviate COVID-19 symptoms, and it was reported that there is a 'possible supply imbalance situation' for certain preferred items. In particular, as a result of operating the cold medicine response system, 21 out of 31 acetaminophen items (67.7%) and 21 out of 23 ibuprofen items (91.3%) were initially confirmed as 'supply difficulties.' This indicates that the supply imbalance situation was recognized but no measures were taken.

Regarding concerns about supply instability due to the withdrawal of Janssen Korea's factory in Korea, it was pointed out that, as confirmed in the KFDA report, it is insufficient to consider the factory withdrawal as the cause of the problem for the 31 acetaminophen items.

Kim also criticized the lack of efforts by the KFDA to improve the system to resolve supply issues. He cited the government's mention of promptly easing the application of the usage-linked pricing system and Article 18 of the Special Act for the Promotion of Development and Emergency Supply of Public Health Crisis Medical Products, saying, "The head of the KFDA should be requested to review the production and import of crisis response medical products, and producers should be provided with financial and administrative support."

He also explained that it is practically difficult to obtain medicine using the government system and criticized, "The government's incompetence should not be passed on as inconvenience to pharmacies, pharmacists, and ultimately to the public," demanding the government's prompt response and improvement measures.

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