Illegal Pharmacies Will Also Be Subject to Future Surveys and Result Announcements

From now on, investigations into illegally established pharmacies will be conducted, and if violations are confirmed, the results can be publicly announced.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 21st that a revision to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act containing this provision has passed the National Assembly plenary session.

The Ministry expects this to contribute to establishing order in drug sales and protecting public health.

Additionally, the National Health Insurance Act, which clarifies the grounds for withholding payment of medical benefits to illegally established medical institutions using the name of medical corporations or lending pharmacist licenses, also passed the plenary session.

On the same day, the Act on Suicide Prevention and the Promotion of a Culture Respecting Life was also passed in the plenary session. It specifies youth in suicide prevention measures by life cycle and mandates suicide prevention education at national institutions, public institutions, and elementary, middle, and high schools.

The laws passed this time will be implemented after approval by the Cabinet meeting, in accordance with the enforcement dates of each law.