Suspected Winter 'Flu Medicine Stockpiling'... Ministry of Health and Welfare Launches On-Site Investigation into Supply Instability

Ministry of Health and Welfare Conducts On-Site Investigation of Pharmacies and Medical Institutions Suspected of Hoarding with Local Governments

Amid the simultaneous outbreaks of respiratory infectious diseases such as influenza and Mycoplasma pneumonia, the government has launched on-site investigations into suspected hoarding of medicines like antipyretics and nasal sprays.

On the 8th, a children's hospital in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, is crowded with children and parents seeking medical treatment as influenza continues to spread, mainly among children and adolescents, with the number of patients more than tripling compared to the same period last year. Photo by Yongjun Cho jun21@

On the 5th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that it will conduct intensive on-site inspections this month on pharmacies and medical institutions suspected of hoarding, in cooperation with local governments.

This investigation will be based on the analysis of medicine supply details and claim volumes reported to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service.

The domestic pharmaceutical industry increased the supply of 1,843 cold medicine items by 6% compared to the same period last year in preparation for respiratory diseases this winter.

However, the Ministry of Health and Welfare explained, "Supply-demand imbalances suspected to be the result of hoarding during distribution have occurred, necessitating government intervention." Since March last year, the ministry has formed a public-private consultative body with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and medical organizations to establish procedures for responding to medicine supply instability, focusing on pediatric medicines.

In particular, they cracked down on stockpiling of Sudafed tablets, a nasal spray, and Setophen suspension, an antipyretic, and newly designated six pediatric medicine ingredients (seven items), including acetaminophen syrup, as essential medicines.

In the upcoming on-site inspections, the Ministry plans to focus on Sudafed tablets and 500ml Setophen suspension, whose supply instability has worsened due to distribution imbalances.

The ministry will thoroughly check inventory levels and usage proof documents (such as dispensing records) at institutions suspected of hoarding these medicines, and if there is a possibility of violating the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, administrative measures will be taken through the relevant public health centers.

Jung Kyung-sil, Director of Health and Medical Policy, stated, "Hoarding medicines with unstable supply disrupts the timely use of these medicines by patients who need them," adding, "We will continue to take firm action against activities that disturb the order of medicine sales."

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