"How Should Telemedicine Platform Regulations Be Set?"... Joint Meeting of Health and SMEs Ministries

Listening to Industry Opinions on the Amendment to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act

Lee Hyunhoon, Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and Noh Yongseok, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, held a joint meeting between the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups on the 14th to discuss the amendment to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act and listened to the opinions of the healthcare sector and the telemedicine platform industry.

Lee Hyunhoon, Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, is speaking at the joint meeting between the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups regarding the amendment to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act held on the 14th. Ministry of Health and Welfare

The meeting was organized to hear the positions of stakeholders regarding the amendment to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, which seeks to restrict telemedicine platforms from also operating as pharmaceutical wholesalers. The event was attended by representatives from pharmaceutical organizations such as the Korea Alliance of Patients Organization, the Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union, the Korean Pharmaceutical Association, and the Korean Medical Association, as well as from the telemedicine industry including the Korea Telemedicine Industry Council, the Korea Digital Health Industry Association, and users of telemedicine platforms.

The amendment to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, which passed the Legislation and Judiciary Committee in November last year, is currently pending a plenary session vote.

During the meeting, a wide range of opinions were exchanged, focusing on the basic positions of the healthcare sector and the platform industry regarding the amendment to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act that restricts telemedicine platforms from also operating as pharmaceutical wholesalers, as well as the potential impact of the amendment on the healthcare sector and the platform industry.

Second Vice Minister Lee stated, "The purpose of the amendment to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act is to allow telemedicine and platforms, but to clarify the standards only for the combination of platforms and pharmaceutical wholesalers, considering the public nature of healthcare. We will fully take into account the various opinions raised today and prioritize patient safety and the fair distribution of pharmaceuticals, ensuring that the telemedicine system operates stably in the field."

First Vice Minister Noh said, "Telemedicine is an opportunity to improve public access to healthcare and supplement the healthcare delivery system, so the role of innovative startups is also important for the continued development of related systems. Together with the relevant ministries, we will carefully review stakeholders' opinions and strive to ensure that the public nature of healthcare and industrial innovation are harmonized."