First Public-Private Council Meeting on Antipyretic and Analgesic Supply Response Held

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] On the 1st, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced that they held the 1st public-private consultative meeting to discuss the supply and demand trends and response measures for antipyretic analgesics at City Tower in Jung-gu, Seoul.

The meeting was chaired by Lim In-taek, Director of Health and Medical Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and was conducted via video conference. Attendees included Jeong Hyun-jeol, Vice President of the Korea Pharmaceutical Association, Jang Byeong-won, Vice President of the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association, and the heads of the Drug Management Offices from the National Health Insurance Service and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service.

The public-private consultative body is a follow-up measure to the 'Supply and Demand Trends and Response Measures for Antipyretic Analgesics' discussed at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for COVID-19 on the 25th.

At the meeting, recent supply and claim trends of antipyretic analgesics, follow-up measures related to drug price adjustment negotiations, and monitoring items to maintain distribution order were discussed. Trends in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors were also shared.

Regarding the recent adjustment of insurance drug prices for frequently used prescription acetaminophen (650mg, 18 items), discussions were held on monitoring production and distribution and future promotion measures. On the 23rd, the Health Insurance Policy Deliberation Committee resolved to temporarily raise the drug price, which had been about 50 won per tablet at a low level, by up to 20 won starting from that day for the 18 prescription acetaminophen (650mg) items.

Director Lim stated, "We plan to continuously monitor the supply and demand situation of antipyretic analgesics during the winter season through the public-private consultative body."

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