Increase in Cold Medicine Supply to Prevent Shortages... Government Issues Emergency Production Order

60% Expansion by April Next Year

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The government has issued an emergency production order for acetaminophen for compounding, which is widely used as a cold medicine in the market. This measure is in preparation for a shortage of antipyretic analgesics due to the winter influenza epidemic and the resurgence of COVID-19.

According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on the 14th, the MFDS designated compounded acetaminophen (650 mg) as a public health crisis response medical product and issued emergency production and import orders to 18 pharmaceutical companies. The application period is until April next year and may be changed considering the infectious disease epidemic situation.

This measure follows the government's antipyretic analgesic supply response plan announced on the 25th of last month. The 18 pharmaceutical companies agreed to increase supply by 60% on average per month compared to the existing amount during the 'intensive management period' set by the government until April next year, and to supply an additional 50% or more until November next year. Accordingly, the cold medicine, which was produced at an average of 45 million tablets per month, will increase to 72 million tablets during the intensive management period and 67.6 million tablets over the entire period.

Earlier, the government raised the price of compounded acetaminophen to incentivize pharmaceutical companies' production. The price of the ingredient, which was 50-51 won, was raised to 70 won. For one year from this month until November 30 next year, an additional temporary premium will be applied ranging from 70 to 90 won depending on each pharmaceutical company's supply contribution, with conditions such as partial recovery if supply targets are not met.

Korea Janssen's Tylenol 8-hour extended-release tablet was priced the highest at 90 won. It was followed by Chong Kun Dang's Penzal extended-release tablet and Bukwang Pharmaceutical's Tassenol 8-hour extended-release tablet at 88 won, and Kolon Pharmaceutical's Tramal extended-release tablet 650 mg at 85 won.

In addition, since the 17th of last month, the government has been implementing distribution improvement measures to prepare for cold medicine shortages. The Ministry of Health and Welfare decided to monitor the supply status of the relevant items continuously through the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service until March next year and crack down on unfair practices, due to concerns that expectations of price adjustments might incentivize hoarding at the wholesale level.

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