Discussion Begins on Nationwide Expansion of Prescription Drug Delivery for Telemedicine; Pharmacists’ Groups Reject Talks

On the 20th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said it would formally discuss expanding prescription drug delivery to all patients ahead of institutionalizing telemedicine. As telemedicine is set to become fully institutionalized with the enforcement of amendments to the Medical Service Act on Dec. 24, the government decided to broaden the discussion toward significantly expanding the existing scope of permitted prescription drug delivery, citing improved patient access to care and the promotion of innovation in related fields.

Under the current subordinate legislation framework, prescription drug delivery was expected to be permitted only for limited groups, including residents of islands and remote areas, long-term care beneficiaries, people with disabilities, patients with infectious diseases and patients with rare diseases. The government said it would maintain the principle of allowing delivery through community pharmacies while prohibiting pharmacies dedicated to telemedicine, but also announced that it would consider revising relevant laws, including the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act and the Medical Service Act, through the latest discussions.

■ “Dr. Now Prevention Act” and Expanded Prescription Drug Delivery: A Two-Track Strategy

On the same day, the National Assembly passed a bill prohibiting telemedicine platform companies from concurrently operating pharmaceutical wholesale businesses. This represents the simultaneous launch of a two-track approach: preventing platform companies from taking control of the pharmaceutical distribution market while expanding access to prescription drug delivery through government-led institutional improvements. The government’s plan to use discussions on restricting telemedicine intermediaries from concurrently operating wholesale businesses as a starting point for reorganizing the pharmaceutical distribution market is evident in this development.

A pan-government public-private consultative body involving relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Office for Government Policy Coordination, as well as pharmacists’ groups and telemedicine intermediaries, will operate as part of the process. Reviews of details such as the quality control of dispensed drugs, confirmation that patients have received their medications and medication counseling will also be conducted in parallel.

■ Pharmacists’ Groups Strongly Oppose Expansion and Reject Participation in Consultative Body

The Korean Pharmaceutical Association strongly opposed the full expansion of prescription drug delivery and refused to participate in the government’s public-private consultative body. It cited patient safety concerns, including medication misuse and the risks of deterioration or incorrect delivery during shipping. Concerns were also raised that the concentration of prescriptions on large platforms could collapse the ecosystem of local community pharmacies.

By contrast, venture industry groups, including the Korea Startup Forum, welcomed discussions on fully expanding prescription drug delivery and said they would provide the prescription drug delivery data and expertise they have accumulated. However, they expressed regret over the National Assembly’s decision to completely block platforms from entering the wholesale business, saying it could stifle innovation in new industries. Because amendments to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act and the Medical Service Act would be required, considerable social conflict is expected during the legislative process.

■ Shorter Intervals for Providing Pharmacy Inventory Information

Separately from discussions on expanding prescription drug delivery, the government is also improving the system for providing pharmacy-specific inventory information on prescription drugs issued through telemedicine. Since May 6, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service have provided telemedicine intermediaries with weekly information on whether pharmacies purchased and dispensed specific medications. Going forward, the government plans to shorten the interval for providing the information and include the quantities purchased and dispensed by each pharmacy. The measure is intended to help patients quickly find pharmacies that stock their prescribed medications.

At one of South Korea’s leading telemedicine platforms, cumulative app downloads have exceeded 7.5 million, and more than 23,000 pharmacies—over 90% of pharmacies nationwide—have participated in dispensing through the platform. The digital infrastructure is already well established. Industry experts believe that if guidelines for safe prescription drug delivery are successfully established, South Korea’s IT platform technology could serve as a foundation for exporting the country’s capabilities to global health care markets.

Meanwhile, beginning in May 2027, the government plans to allow foreign patients who visited South Korea to continue receiving telemedicine consultations and prescriptions from South Korean medical professionals after returning to their home countries. As the global online pharmacy market is projected to grow to approximately $569.4 billion by 2032, the institutionalization of telemedicine and discussions on expanding prescription drug delivery are emerging as issues directly tied to the global competitiveness of South Korea’s digital health care industry.