Will drug delivery be fully allowed to boost telemedicine sector?
Pharmacists say delivery system could cause misuse or abuse of drugs
Pharmacists are raising concerns over the possibility of drug deliveries being fully allowed in the country, after President Yoon Suk Yeol expressed regret over the prohibition of the delivery system under the current pilot telemedicine program and signaled his willingness to improve relevant services.
The president made the remarks on Tuesday during a government-public debate on people’s livelihood issues, where he vowed to do his best to get legislation passed to expand telemedicine services, which have been significantly cut back following the transition from the COVID-19 pandemic to endemic status.
“Telemedicine based on digital technology brought innovation to medical services, but the end of the pandemic led to limited implementation, and inconveniences remain, including the prohibition of drug delivery,” Yoon said.
Yoon’s remarks embarrassed pharmacists, who have openly opposed
the drug delivery system and made joint efforts to block the permission of the delivery in the pilot telemedicine program.
The Korean Pharmaceutical Association earlier said the delivery system could be abused and increase the confusion of patients.
“The delivery system could violate patients’ rights to choose a pharmacy and cause misuse or abuse of drugs,” said a pharmacist who runs a pharmacy
in Seoul’s Dongjak District. “Even if a prescription is fabricated, there will be no way to verify it, if this delivery is allowed.”
He also raised concerns over the possibility of the misplacement or loss of drugs during delivery.
Telemedicine, or non-face-toface medical treatments, which are technically illegal under the current Medical Services Act, were temporarily allowed in Korea in February 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling people to use phone consultations and prescriptions for a limited time.
After the public health crisis came to an end, telemedicine continued as a pilot project in June last year with available services significantly narrowed.
Amid growing complaints over limited implementation, the health ministry, Dec. 15, expanded coverage areas and time spans under which one can receive telemedicine services, but did not lift a ban on drug delivery.
The ministry exceptionally allowed drug delivery only for those who suffer from infectious diseases, live on islands or in mountain areas or who have mobility difficulties.
After Yoon spoke publicly about the possibility of allowing the drug delivery, Jeon Byung-wang, who is in charge of health care policy at the ministry, said 9,000 out of 24,000 pharmacies across the country have filled prescriptions for patients who received non-face-to-face medical treatment.
“If a pharmacist rejects filling a prescription for a patient of nonface-to-face medical treatment, it will be in violation of pharmaceutical laws,” Jeon said, vowing to enhance the government’s monitoring over any possible violations in this regard.
Meanwhile, Consumerwatch, a non-governmental consumer organization based in Seoul, welcomed Yoon’s will to allow drug delivery, calling the current prohibition an “outdated regulation.”
“The pilot telemedicine service has been significantly expanded, but still has limitations as patients cannot get drugs delivered,” the organization said. “The country’s telemedicine services will be completed when all procedures — from a doctor’s consultation to drug delivery — are implemented non-face-toface.”
If a pharmacist rejects filling a prescription for a patient of non-face-to-face medical treatment, it will be in violation of pharmaceutical laws.