"Our Child Is Sick, but There’s No Medicine": Pediatric Hospitals on High Alert Amid Looming Care Crisis

Korean Pediatric Hospital Association Conducts Survey of 35 Hospitals
34% Already Out of Stock... 86% of Specialists Warn "Alternatives Are Dangerous"

The government has pledged to ensure a continuous supply of the injectable medication Ativan (active ingredient: lorazepam), used for pediatric seizure patients. However, it has been found that pediatric hospitals across the country have already run out of stock, raising concerns about potential disruptions to patient care. Practicing specialists have warned that a crisis in medical care could occur as early as July, urging the authorities to take immediate action.

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According to an emergency survey conducted on May 16 by the Korean Association of Pediatric Hospitals, which targeted pediatric hospitals nationwide, 34% (12 out of 35 responding hospitals) reported that their stocks of Ativan injections had already run out, making treatment impossible in emergency cases—a situation categorized as "critical."

Notably, 37% of the responding hospitals (13 facilities) stated that their supplies would be depleted within one to two months, indicating that 71% of all hospitals are certain to experience paralysis in medical services due to Ativan shortages before the summer arrives.

Pediatricians also expressed their difficulties. In the past six months, 23% of hospitals had to transfer patients to other facilities because the drugs were unavailable due to unstable supply. Additionally, 43% of medical staff reported experiencing severe stress due to concerns over side effects when using alternative medications.

The government maintains that there are alternative medications such as midazolam and diazepam, so there is no major problem. However, the field specialists strongly disagreed. A total of 86% of respondents (69% strongly disagreed, 17% disagreed) criticized this view as "armchair theorizing that ignores clinical realities and a dangerous idea that puts children’s lives at risk." Ativan is considered the only drug that can protect the golden hour by rapidly acting within 5 to 10 minutes to prevent brain damage, and because it causes less respiratory irritation compared to other drugs, it is regarded as the safest first-line option for children. For all these reasons, 57% of specialists agreed that "Ativan is irreplaceable in the treatment of pediatric seizures."

Regarding the root causes of this crisis, those at the front lines pointed to government mismanagement and failed drug pricing policies. Among the hospitals surveyed, 66% cited the government’s negligence—having left essential medicines, which have the character of public goods, exposed to market forces. Another 29% identified the lack of realistic drug pricing, noting that pharmaceutical companies cannot continue manufacturing at a loss, as the biggest issue.

As for the top priority the government must immediately implement to address the current supply cliff, 63% overwhelmingly supported "realistic drug pricing that reflects actual production costs so manufacturers can resume production." This was followed by "immediate emergency importation of foreign-manufactured products" (17%) and "introduction of a national procurement system for essential emergency medicines" (17%).

Choi Yongjae, President of the Korean Association of Pediatric Hospitals, stated, "Ativan is an indispensable minimum safeguard in pediatric emergency care. Allowing the production of essential medicines to cease due to deteriorating profitability is tantamount to the state declaring an abandonment of pediatric care. Therefore, immediate drug price adjustments and the establishment of a stable supply system are absolutely necessary."

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