KDCA "Expansion of Reconsideration Scope for Nationally Managed Rare Diseases Designation"

On the 23rd, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced plans to strengthen support for rare diseases and expand the scope of reexamination this year in observance of the 'Rare Disease Overcoming Day.'

According to the Rare Disease Management Act, the KDCA has been expanding the number of nationally managed rare diseases annually, increasing from 926 in 2018 to 1,165 last year.

Exterior view of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. [Photo by Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency]

Along with this, due to the need for prompt reexamination of undesignated diseases, the waiting period for reexamination of applied diseases has been shortened and related procedures have been revised. As a result, the previous restriction that reapplication was not allowed within a 3-year waiting period has been shortened to 1 year, enabling reapplication.

The KDCA decided to apply the revamped reexamination system retroactively to diseases subject to reexamination before the guideline implementation. A comprehensive reexamination will be conducted this year, and the results will be announced in the second half of the year.

From next year, designated diseases will be included in the reduced copayment for medical benefits under the National Health Insurance's 'Rare Disease Special Case' and in the target diseases of the 'Rare Disease Patient Medical Expense Support Project.' Among them, hereditary rare diseases will also be included in the 'Rare Disease Diagnosis Support Project,' which supports genetic testing for difficult-to-diagnose rare diseases.

Jiyoungmi, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, stated, "On the occasion of Rare Disease Overcoming Day, we once again recognize the need to support patients, and we will continue to strengthen national management to ensure that more rare disease patients can receive support."

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