Regulatory Updates

The Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) has appointed Prof. Oh Joo-hwan of Seoul National University College of Medicine as Director of its Policy Research Institute, effective Sept 1.

A KPA News report reveals that 10 of 16 Korean provinces have no institutions delivering pediatric and adolescent palliative care under the Ministry’s support program.

South Korean health‑civil society groups have formally opposed the government’s plan to extend telemedicine prescription delivery to all patients, citing patient safety and health‑insurance cost concerns.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency will surveil hairy tick occurrences at 18 locations from Aug 26 to Dec 16 to curb Tsutsugamushi disease spread.

Pharmacists and pharmacy students from Chungbuk joined a relay protest at the presidential office, demanding the government clarify licensing scopes for pharmacists and han‑yak‑sa and resolve longstanding issues.

Roche and Eli Lilly's Elecsys pTau217 blood test for Alzheimer’s received FDA clearance, measuring phosphorylated tau 217 to aid diagnosis and exclusion.

The European Commission has authorized the use of Gilead’s ADC Trodelvy in combination with Merck’s Keytruda for patients with PD‑L1‑positive triple‑negative breast cancer that is unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic.

Medsun Pharma Korea's oxurumoju, SK Biopharm's Excofri, and Korean Janssen's Spravato nasal spray have begun price negotiations for health‑insurance reimbursement, with potential listing after October.

85 drug items with rising claims or usage are expected to face price cuts or adjustments next month after PVA results with the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service.

The Korean Pharmaceutical Association reported that a pharmacy run by a 한약사 was compounding and selling prescription medicines without employing a licensed pharmacist, prompting a complaint to local health authorities.

The Seoul Pharmacists Association urged the Korean Pharmacists Association to convene an emergency delegate assembly to formulate a unified response to the proposed expansion of non‑face‑to‑face prescription drug delivery.

Policy chief Jo Won‑jun warns that expanding drug delivery via telemedicine before proper implementation is premature, citing concerns after the DoctorNow Prevention Act passed.