On-Site Inspections for Syringe and Needle Hoarding Ban... Strict Measures for Violations

Temporary Measures in Place Until End of June to Stabilize Supply Amid Middle East Conflict

Financial Support for Manufacturers... 'Supply Hotline' Activated for Hemodialysis Clinics

In response to growing concerns over the supply and demand of medical products due to the prolonged Middle East war, the government has taken decisive measures by banning hoarding and cornering practices for syringes and needles, and has begun follow-up actions such as emergency field inspections.

Jung Eungyeong, Minister of Health and Welfare, is speaking at the "2nd Health and Medical Organizations Meeting for Middle East War Response" held on the 6th at Dalgabei Conference House in Jung-gu, Seoul. Ministry of Health and Welfare

On April 14, the Ministry of Health and Welfare held the "3rd Health and Medical Organizations Meeting for Middle East War Response" at Conference House Dalgaebi in Jung-gu, Seoul, where participants reviewed the results of medical product monitoring and discussed major action plans.

The meeting was chaired by Minister of Health and Welfare Jung Eun-kyung, and attended by representatives from 12 health and medical organizations, including the Korean Medical Association, Korean Hospital Association, Korean Dental Association, Association of Korean Medicine, Korean Pharmaceutical Association, Korean Nurses Association, Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association, Korea Pharmaceutical Distribution Association, Korea Medical Devices Cooperative, Korea Medical Devices Industry Association, Korea Pharmaceutical Traders Association, and Korea Medical Devices Distribution Association. Officials from relevant ministries and agencies, such as the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, were also present.

Earlier that day, the government issued a notice titled "Prohibition of Hoarding and Cornering Practices for Syringes and Needles," effective from midnight. Although the production volume of syringes and related products is being maintained at a certain level thanks to prioritizing the allocation of naphtha—a key raw material—to essential medical products, supply instability has been observed in some online sellers experiencing stockouts. To address this, the ban on hoarding and cornering is intended to stabilize supply and demand and restore order to the distribution market.

Under the notice, manufacturers and distributors are prohibited from holding excessive stocks or refusing to sell syringes (general, dental, filter, insulin—four categories) and needles (non-sterile, sterile, dental—three categories) beyond the criteria specified in the notice. Excessive sales to specific buyers are also banned. Specifically, existing businesses are not allowed to store more than 150% of last year's average monthly sales for more than five days, or sell more than 110% of the average monthly sales. New businesses must sell or return products within 10 days of manufacture or purchase. Additionally, sales to the same buyer must not exceed the average monthly sales recorded between December last year and February this year.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will also establish a "Hoarding and Cornering Reporting Center" and operate joint inspection teams with local governments to strictly address any acts that disrupt distribution order at the national level.

This notice will be temporarily in effect until June 30. While medical institutions are not subject to penalties for hoarding and cornering, they are still restricted from purchasing quantities exceeding the limits set by the notice, effectively limiting excessive purchases.

An "Emergency Field Investigation of Medical Products Facing Supply Instability" will also be conducted at general hospitals and other institutions nationwide through local governments. Authorities will check inventory levels and recent purchase contracts for medical products used by medical institutions, and will provide administrative guidance to prevent excessive stockpiling or hoarding that may destabilize supply.

Measures to ease cost burdens on companies facing difficulties due to rising raw material prices and exchange rate fluctuations will also be implemented. The government is currently coordinating with relevant ministries to ensure that medical product manufacturers can be included in the emergency business stabilization fund support program for small and medium-sized manufacturers, and is also considering ways to adjust reimbursement rates to reflect current market conditions.

In particular, a "Hotline for Syringes for Hemodialysis Clinics" will be given priority, ensuring that clinics specializing in hemodialysis can stably procure essential medical consumables such as syringes through the online marketplace operated by the Korean Medical Association.

Minister of Health and Welfare Jung Eun-kyung stated, "The government will ensure a stable supply of medical products by sufficiently providing petrochemical raw materials to the health and medical sector and prohibiting hoarding and cornering practices that cause anxiety in the market, thereby stabilizing distribution order." She further called on companies involved in manufacturing and distribution, as well as medical institutions and pharmacies that use medical products, to actively cooperate with government policies.

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