Here’s a breakdown of the key points from the article, focusing on the implications of the “ingredient name prescription system” in the pharmaceutical industry:
What is the Ingredient Name Prescription System?
* Currently, doctors prescribe specific brand-name drugs (e.g., Tylenol).
* The new system would have doctors prescribe by the active ingredient (e.g., acetaminophen).
* Patients could then choose which brand containing that ingredient to purchase at the pharmacy.
Impact on the Pharmaceutical Industry:
* Shift in Power: Pharmaceutical companies would need to focus on marketing to pharmacists rather then doctors, as pharmacists would be the ones recommending brands to patients.
* Reduced Doctor Influence: Doctors would be excluded from the pharmaceutical companies’ operations.
* Patient Education Needed: Patients would need to become more informed about medications to make informed choices, but current laws restrict direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs.
* Potential for Pharmacist Dominance: One pharmaceutical official fears the system could overly empower pharmacists.
Reasons for the Proposed change:
* Stable Supply: The system is intended to prevent drug shortages, hoarding, and price manipulation, ensuring a stable supply of essential medicines.
* Bill Origin: proposed by National Assembly member Kim Yoon.
Opposition from the Medical Community:
* Infringement on Doctor’s Rights: Medical groups argue it infringes on a doctor’s right to prescribe and disrupts the established division of labor in medicine.
* Patient Safety Concerns: They believe prescribing by ingredient alone could be hazardous, especially with medications sensitive to individual patient needs.
* Root Cause Ignored: The Korean Medical Association argues the problem isn’t prescribing methods, but government drug pricing policies and pharmaceutical companies prioritizing profit over supply.
* Accusations of Power Grab: Opponents accuse those supporting the change of being concerned about losing prescription authority.
In essence, the article portrays the ingredient name prescription system as a potentially disruptive change that could reshape the relationship between doctors, pharmacists, pharmaceutical companies, and patients. It highlights the concerns of the medical community and the potential challenges of implementation.
