Jeong Eun-kyung views "orphan disease fund establishment"

unfavorably

"If the required financial scale for reimbursing high-cost drugs exceeds the fund's size, flexible fund operation becomes difficult"

Jung Eun-kyung, the candidate for Minister of Health and Welfare (MOHW), has expressed skepticism regarding the establishment of a separate fund to improve the National Health Insurance reimbursement rate for treatments for expensive, rare (orphan), and severe diseases.

 

The rationale is that if the required financial scale for reimbursing high-cost drugs exceeds the fund's size, flexible fund operation becomes difficult.

 

Jung stated her view that continuously expanding the scope of reimbursement should take precedence over establishing a separate fund.

 

On July 17, Jung provided this response to a written inquiry from Democratic Party of Korea Representative Jeon Jin-suk during the parliamentary confirmation hearing.

 

Representative Jeon had asked for Jung's stance on strengthening coverage for orphan and severe disease treatments by creating a separate dedicated fund to improve the National Health Insurance reimbursement listing system.

 

Jung acknowledged that establishing and operating a separate fund for patients with orphan and severe diseases would have the advantage of allowing independent financial management.

 

However, she did not prioritize improving the reimbursement rate.

 

Jung stated, "If the required financial resources for high-cost treatments exceed the fund's scale, there is a concern that flexible operation would become difficult." She emphasized, "Therefore, continuously expanding the scope of reimbursement is primarily needed rather than establishing a separate fund." Jung added, "Currently, various support measures are in operation, including 'special calculation and improvement of standards' to alleviate out-of-pocket burdens and catastrophic medical expense support," and added, "We will strive to strengthen coverage for rare and severe disease patients." Regarding the introduction of an indication-specific drug pricing system for recently developed immunotherapies for cancer that have single components but multiple indications, Jung provided a principled answer that she would review it.

 

Jung said, "It is necessary to review various systems to strengthen patient access to recently developed new drugs." However, she added, "We will review it comprehensively, considering its suitability for operation within the National Health Insurance system in Korea, the benefits of introducing the system, and its financial and social impact."