Government Invests 3.6 Billion Won to Prevent Shortages of Essential Medicines for Children and Pregnant Women

Ministry of Health and Welfare to Support Resumption of Production for Seven Pharmaceuticals by Six Companies

Expansion Expected for Domestically Monopolized Essential Medicines

In order to address the recent instability in the supply of essential pediatric medicines, such as 'Lorazepam' and 'Hydrocortisone' injections, the government will directly support domestic pharmaceutical companies in expanding their production facilities.

On May 20, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute announced that they have selected six companies and seven types of medicines as the final beneficiaries of the '2026 Unstable Medicine Supply Production Support Project.'

This project aims to protect the public's right to health by providing financial support for the construction of facilities and equipment to companies that manufacture medicines with unstable domestic supply, thereby encouraging the resumption and expansion of medicine supply. The initiative began last year with the provision of 900 million won to Boryung, which is the sole domestic producer of 'Questran Suspension Powder,' a medicine for hyperlipidemia in mothers and children. This year, the government budget for the program has been increased to 3.6 billion won.

This year's beneficiaries include: ▲GC Green Cross Corp. (Histobulin Injection) ▲Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corp. (Cefazolin Injection) ▲BC World Pharm Co., Ltd. (Tubis Tab, Tubis Two Tab) ▲McNulty Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (Gluorange 100) ▲Korea Pharma Bio Co., Ltd. (Hydrocortisone Injection) ▲Samjin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Lorazepam Injection). Each of these companies will receive up to 900 million won per year in government funding for two years.

Among these, urgent measures were required for essential medicines whose domestic exclusive manufacturers recently reported supply suspensions, causing an emergency in the supply chain.

For Lorazepam injection, which is used for preoperative sedation and emergencies such as epilepsy, Samjin Pharmaceutical will establish new production equipment, obtain product approval within the year, and begin rapid supply. Hydrocortisone injection, which is essential for treating acute adrenal insufficiency and emergency care for infants and young children, will be directly produced by Korea Pharma Bio after obtaining new product approval, thereby stabilizing the supply situation.

'Histobulin Injection' for allergy treatment, 'Tubis Tab' and 'Tubis Two Tab' for tuberculosis treatment, and 'Gluorange 100' for gestational diabetes testing are the only medicines of their kind produced and supplied domestically. These products have repeatedly faced supply delays and temporary shortages due to outdated facilities, but with this government support, a stable production system is expected to be established.

With government support, each company's production volume will increase significantly by 2028. GC Green Cross plans to double its annual production of Histobulin Injection from 260,000 vials to 520,000 vials. BC World Pharm also plans to double its production of Tubis Tab (from 2.4 million to 4.8 million tablets) and Tubis Two Tab (from 3 million to 6 million tablets). McNulty Pharmaceuticals aims to expand production of Gluorange 100 by 25%, from approximately 480,000 bottles to 600,000 bottles.

Chong Kun Dang's 'Cefazolin Injection,' a broad-spectrum antibiotic, also needs to be produced in greater quantities due to increased demand following supply suspensions from other companies. Production will be increased from the current 6 million vials to 9 million vials, a 1.5-fold increase.

Jung Eun-young, Director General of Health Industry Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said, "The medicines supported this year are critical for protecting the health of children and pregnant women, as well as for emergency care. We expect that a stable supply in the future will make a significant contribution to safeguarding the health and lives of the public."

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