[2022 National Audit] Where Is 'Pharmaceutical Sovereignty' Going... Drug Self-Sufficiency Rate Stagnates at 60%

A shipment of 1.01 million doses of the Moderna vaccine that arrived at Incheon International Airport Cargo Terminal last August is being transferred to transport vehicles. / Yeongjongdo - Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Amid changes in the global situation emphasizing the importance of 'pharmaceutical sovereignty,' the self-sufficiency rate of pharmaceuticals has rather decreased.

According to data received by Choi Young-hee, a member of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on the 5th, the self-sufficiency rate of finished pharmaceuticals, which was at 77.6% in 2017, has continuously declined to 60.1%. The self-sufficiency rate of raw materials for pharmaceuticals was even more severe, dropping from 35.4% to 24.4% during the same period.

The major import countries for raw materials of pharmaceuticals were also found to be excessively concentrated in specific countries. China (35.4%), India (10.8%), and Japan (10.6%)?the top three countries?account for about 60% of total raw material imports. In particular, among the finished pharmaceuticals imported by South Korea, the raw materials for 341 products with two or fewer alternative medicines are imported from these countries, leading Representative Choi to point out that "diversification of import pipelines is urgently needed."

Among 567 finished pharmaceuticals reported to have had production, import, or supply interruptions from 2017 to last June, 31 were confirmed to have supply interruptions due to raw material supply issues. Of these, 17 were national essential medicines.

Representative Choi said, “If there are problems in the supply of raw materials used in antibiotics, antipyretics, and anti-inflammatory drugs, it poses a great threat to public health,” adding, “It is urgent to increase the self-reliance of raw materials as soon as possible and to establish a system that can prepare for any national emergency through diversification of import sources.”