South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare introduces sweeping regulatory updates to ease medication shortages in isolated facilities and transport hubs.

SEOUL — South Korea is stepping up efforts to bridge healthcare gaps in isolated areas. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has unveiled a comprehensive package of regulatory reforms aimed at expanding access to essential over-the-counter (OTC) medicines in military compounds, remote islands, and public transport hubs lacking local pharmacies.

Announced on the 12th, the legislative and administrative changes overhaul the Enforcement Decree of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act and related administrative notices. The reform comes in response to persistent institutional requests from the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, alongside policy recommendations from the National Human Rights Commission and the Board of Audit and Inspection.

Key Updates for Military Personnel and Civilians

Under the revised rules, military civilian employees stationed at defense medical facilities will now be granted the same rights as active-duty soldiers to directly collect prescriptions dispensed by military physicians—a privilege previously denied to civilian staff.

To address a growing shortage of military medics, the policy also broadens proxy drug-handling authorization. Civilian defense personnel holding professional licenses as doctors, pharmacists, nurses, or emergency medical technicians will now be permitted to manage tele-health medical supplies.

Furthermore, remote military units located more than 3 kilometers away from the nearest pharmacy or safety-drug retailer—and lacking an assigned military doctor—will empower unit commanders to designate specific personnel to stock and distribute 11 core safety OTC items. These include essential antipyretics, cold medicines, digestive aids, and medicated patches.

Expanding Access at Airports and Islands

Air travel passengers will also benefit from the changes. Airport passenger terminals lacking commercial pharmacies will be permitted to designate staff to manage safety OTC medications, ensuring travelers have immediate access to basic remedies for sudden fevers, aches, or pains.

In maritime-dependent regions such as remote islands and isolated coastal areas, authorities are introducing antiemetics (motion sickness pills) to the list of approved general pharmaceuticals available for distribution, acknowledging high local demand for sea travel.

Encouraging Pharmacy Participation

To fix structural supply bottlenecks, the government is revising pricing caps for pharmacies supplying special-status locations. While previous rules forced suppliers to offer a steep 15% discount off standard retail prices, the new framework allows pharmacies to set supply prices up to their regular consumer retail price. Officials hope this flexibility will incentivize more private pharmacies to participate in supplying vulnerable regions.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare is currently accepting public comments on the amendments. Feedback regarding the enforcement decree can be submitted through the Ministry’s Pharmaceutical Policy Division or the National Participation Legislative Center until December 22, with public notice opinions closing earlier on December 2.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]