Summary of South Korea‘s Non-Face-to-Face Medical Treatment Legislation & Future Discussions
this article details the recent passage of an amendment to South Korea’s Medical Service Act legalizing non-face-to-face medical treatment and outlines the upcoming debates surrounding its implementation. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
1. Legal Framework Established:
* The National Assembly passed a bill to institutionalize non-face-to-face medical treatment, effective December 2026 (after a one-year grace period).
* The amendment is guided by four principles: prioritizing face-to-face treatment, focusing on clinic-level institutions, prioritizing returning patients, and prohibiting dedicated non-face-to-face facilities.
2. Key Issues for Subordinate Laws (Enforcement Decrees & Rules):
* Prescription-Restricted Drugs: This is the biggest debate.Beyond narcotics and psychotropics, there’s pressure to restrict non-covered drugs like hair loss, acne, and especially obesity treatments. The government already announced restrictions on non-face-to-face prescriptions for obesity treatments.
* Drug Delivery: Currently limited to specific groups (island residents,long-term care recipients,disabled,infectious disease patients,rare disease patients).Discussions will focus on regulating delivery methods and potentially expanding the scope through further law revision.
* Public Electronic Prescription System: Establishing this system is a priority.
* Regional Restrictions: Limitations on where first-time patients can access non-face-to-face treatment.
3. Stakeholder Positions:
* Non-Face-to-face Platforms: concerned about overly restrictive drug lists.
* korean Pharmaceutical Association & Expert Groups: Advocate for broader restrictions, including non-covered drugs.
* Civic groups: Their position is less explicitly stated,but likely involved in balancing access with safety.
* Ministry of Health and Welfare: Aims to quickly finalize subordinate laws to avoid confusion.
4. “doctor Now Prevention Act” Status:
* A related bill aimed at preventing inappropriate prescriptions (“Doctor now Prevention Act”) passed a committee but was not submitted for a plenary vote.
In essence, the legal groundwork is laid, but the details of how non-face-to-face medical treatment will function in practice are still being heavily debated and will be determined through upcoming discussions on subordinate laws. The focus is on balancing accessibility with patient safety and preventing misuse of medications.
