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- 2026-05-15 21:38:32
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- Tecentriq, first immunotherapy reimbursed in liver cancer
- by jung, sae-im Apr 22, 2022 06:07am
- Roche’s Tecentriq(atezolizumab) became the first cancer immunotherapy to be approved for reimbursement in liver cancer. Analysts have assessed that it had prepared the footsold to expand its sales with the first expansion in its scope of reimbursement in 3 years since 2019. Tecentriq is continuing its stride to overcome the stronghold of Keytruda, the current leader in the cancer immunotherapy market. The National Health Insurance Service had preannounced the posting of the ‘Revision to the notice for drugs prescribed and administered to cancer patients’ that contains a new category created to establish reimbursement standards for Tecentriq in liver cancer. The reimbursement will be applied from May 1st. According to the amendment, Tecentriq will be reimbursed as monotherapy in first-line for patients with metastatic NSCLC whose tumors are PD-L1 positive (TC≥50% or IC≥ 10%) and do not have EGFR of ALK mutations. Also, the drug will become the first immunotherapy to be approved for liver cancer (patocellular carcinoma, HCC). Among patients with advanced or unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), those satisfy all of the following conditions: ▲who are Stage III or higher ▲Child-Pugh class A and ▲have a ECOG PS (performance status) 0-1, may receive reimbursement for Tecentriq in the first-line in combination with Avastin (bevacizumab). The drug is approved for reimbursement for basically one year in liver cancer, and when no clinical results are announced on the optimal period of administration within the year, reimbursement can be approved for up to 2 years at the most. As a latecomer in cancer immunotherapy, the company has been hurrying to extend its reimbursement to expand its share in the market. Although the agenda had made slow progress after passing the Cancer Drug Deliberation Committee in February last year, the agenda gained momentum this year and was finally approved after 1 year and 2 months. Source: IQVIA In terms of reimbursement, Tecentriq’s scope has neared that of the immunotherapy leader Keytruda. Keytruda currently owns the broadest indication among all cancer immunotherapies. The drug was approved for 18 indications in 14 cancer types including lung cancer, head and neck cancer, melanoma, and gastric cancer. However, among the approved indications, Keytruda is only reimbursed for NSCLC, Hodgkin lymphoma., and melanoma. It took the drug 4 years just to extend the scope of reimbursement (both monotherapy and combination therapy) to first-line from second-line in NSCLC. This goes to show how difficult reimbursement extensions are for the costly immunotherapies. Roche has been expanding its reimbursement relatively quickly by actively accepting government proposals. It succeeded in entering reimbursement in one year since its approval, and in 2019, it became the first immuno-oncology drug to remove the PD-L1 expression rate restriction and broaden its scope of reimbursement. Based on this, Tecentriq posted ₩67.2 billion in sales last year based on the drug research institution IQVIA. This is an 81.6% increase from the ₩37 billion made in the previous year. It is only one-third of the sales of Keytruda, which is posted nearly ₩200 billion won, but Tecentriq’s sales are increasing at a rapid pace. The drug significantly narrowed its gap with Opdivo (₩85 billion), the runner-up in the market. The extended reimbursement approval this year has laid the grounds for Tecentriq’s sales expansion. In particular, Tecentriq is the only drug that entered reimbursement among cancer immunotherapies, and is expected to bring a significant impact on the drug’s sales growth. The Tecentriq and Avastin combination extended the survival period of liver cancer patients by about 6 months compared to Nexavar (sorafenib), the only first-line drug that had been available for 10 years.
- Company
- The opinions of the pharmaceutical community vary widely
- by jung, sae-im Apr 22, 2022 06:07am
- Employees of pharmaceutical companies who have entered the era of post-COVID-19 due to the end of social distancing are divided. Various opinions are coming out as it is divided into pharmaceutical companies that maintain telecommuting and pharmaceutical companies that terminate. Pros and cons also followed group meetings such as company dinners and workshops. According to the pharmaceutical industry on the 21st, as social distancing has been completely lifted, pharmaceutical companies are also preparing to return to their daily lives. They would like to reduce or end telecommuting, and gradually promote suspended dinners and workshops. However, employees who have been satisfied with telecommuting and reduced company dinners for two years have recognized that commuting and company dinners are unnecessary hours. They look upset at the news that they can return to their old company culture. A, an employee of a multinational company, said, "I've had enough meetings and work from home, and my work efficiency has increased," adding, "Now I feel like commuting time is a waste. It's better to take care of one more task at that time," he said. B, an employee of a domestic company, said, "When there was a business hour limit, it ended at 9-10 o'clock even if we had a company dinner, but now there is no time limit, so the burden has increased. I'm already stressed out because I can have a company dinner until after midnight like before." C, an employee of a domestic company, also said, "There are already talks about having a company dinner in the department. During the COVID-19 period, I was able to enjoy a "life with dinner" while doing personal hobby activities, but I think it will be difficult to enjoy hobbies now, he confessed. Pharmaceutical salespeople, who had become a daily routine to go to work in the local area, are also worried that the number of office workers will increase. D, a sales employee at a domestic company, said, "As the number of office visits decreased due to COVID-19, the movement path was efficient, but the lifting of distance is likely to double the time to go to work again." There are some people who welcome going to work. This is because they felt limited in communication through telecommuting. E, an employee of a multinational company, said, "I moved during the COVID-19 period, but it took a while to identify employees in each department because I was working from home," adding, "It is not easy to communicate because there are still a lot of people out of touch. It seems that face-to-face communication is much more helpful in handling tasks with a lot of collaboration between departments," he said. F, an employee of a multinational company, said, "I have a hard time staying at home for a long time, so I feel lonely and depressed because I had to work from home when COVID-19 was serious, but now I have autonomy to go to work on purpose." In fact, the preference was also mixed in a survey conducted by commercial real estate data company Rsquare on career tech platform people and 2,625 office workers in their 20s and 50s or older last month. 37% of the respondents preferred the form of "going to work at the office and working in a designated seat," while half of them cited "the necessity and efficiency of face-to-face work" as the reason. Respondents in their 30s preferred "hybrid work," a mixture of commuting and telecommuting. The company's workshop, which had been suspended for a while, is also showing signs of reviving. There are opinions that a workshop is needed for unity and opinions that it is unnecessary. G, an employee of a domestic company, said, "In particular, after COVID-19, new employees do not know who belongs to which department because OJT (on the job training) is also online. In the past, collaboration was smooth through workshops and interdepartmental dinners, but since it was suspended for more than two years, we often had difficulty knowing each other, he said. "I hope there will be a chance to get together once in a while, even if not often." H, a domestic company employee, said, "I don't know if I really need to go to a group workshop. It is possible to communicate smoothly through tea meetings between collaborative departments, he said. "It has been suspended due to COVID-19, but if we make good use of small meetings such as company clubs, we will be able to produce better effects than workshops."
- InterView
- We are making all efforts to reimburse ‘Vyndamax’
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Apr 21, 2022 06:03am
- 김희정 전무 Rare disease patients suffer more due to the 'rarity' of their condition. Due to the small number of affected patients, even drugs that are already available cannot be easily listed for reimbursement due to difficulty in demonstrating cost-effectiveness or predicting their fiscal impact on the NHI budget. Rare diseases are diseases that affect fewer than 20,000 people or those for which the number of affected patients cannot be estimated due to difficulties in diagnosis. As rare diseases are difficult to diagnose and treat and have a significant impact on the life expectancy of the patients, it is imperative to ensure patient access to the treatments. However, due to the small number of affected patients, initiating clinical trials for such treatments in itself is quite difficult. In this context, Pfizer's Rare Disease Busines Unit has been currently exerting all its efforts to list its ‘Vyndamax (tafamidis 61mg),’ a treatment for ATTR-CM (ATTR amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy) for reimbursement in Korea. However, the process has not been so smooth. The company has already failed twice and is now making its third attempt at reimbursing the drug. Dailypharm met with Hee-Jeong Kim, Rare Disease Lead of Pfizer Korea to hear about the company’s position and state of affairs. -In Korea, it is not an exaggeration to say that reimbursement determines the success or failure of a new drug. As much as the government provides good coverage for the reimbursed drugs, this also makes it more difficult for drugs to be listed for reimbursement. Have you felt this while leading the Rare Disease BU at Pfizer? Korea’s strength is in its coverage (range of coverage). Patients in Korea can receive broader benefits in the course of their treatment due to Korea’s consistent policy and predictable supply under the single-payer system, once the drug is listed. Other markets abroad operate under various schemes. Access to new drugs is a little more difficult in Asia than in other regions. In Europe, new drugs are introduced at a relatively faster rate. In Spain, separate funding is operated for each region, and in the UK, the NHS has allocated alternative funding schemes for necessary drugs. The prompt introduction of new drugs is indeed difficult in Korea due to the wide scope of use of NHI finances from the patient’s perspective. The advantages of the single-payer system that I mentioned previously are partially offset by the strict standards set for new drugs. -This is the third attempt at reimbursement for ‘Vyndamax.’ It seems that the company’s determination will be as important as the government's will in obtaining the reimbursement approval. What efforts have Pfizer been making for the reimbursement?’ All employees at Pfizer Rare Disease have a strong desire to deliver the value of Vyndamax’ to patients in Korea. We plan to continue making attempts through various tracks available in Korea. ATTR-CM is a rare disease that lacks studies and trials to identify the exact prevalence of the condition itself. We fully understand the government’s concerns regarding this ambiguity and have continuously been in discussions with our head office to prepare an innovative risk-sharing plan as requested by the government. However, the agenda has not even passed the Drug Reimbursement Standard Subcommittee, therefore, we are not at the stage to discuss the risk-sharing plan being prepared by the company. We did not expect the drug to fail at setting the reimbursement standard stage so many times, therefore, our prime focus is on passing the Drug Reimbursement Standard Subcommittee this time. We will continue exerting our utmost effort at every stage that follows. -What about collaboration with academic societies and patient groups? The academic societies and patients groups recognize the need for the prompt reimbursement of ‘Vyndamax’ and have expressed their opinion to the government several times. Due to the small number of affected patients, it takes a significant time for HCPs to accumulate the expertise required. The Rare Disease BU cannot exist if the company only considers performance and numbers. In this perspective, having a sense of mission seems to be more important in our line of work. Our drug is necessary for further diagnosis of rare diseases, and we are sorry that there is no treatment currently available for use for HCPs and patients in Korea after the patients are diagnosed with ATTR-CM.
- Opinion
- [Reporter’s View] 1st oral abortion pill approval difficult
- by Lee, Hye-Kyung Apr 21, 2022 06:03am
- A year has passed since the decriminalization of the abortion ban has taken effect. The Korean Health and Medical Workers’ Union distributed a press release on the 11th on ‘ensuring safe abortion of the people 1 year after the decriminalization of abortion in Korea.’ The press release contained the request for marketing authorization of the oral abortion inducer Mifegymiso (Mifepristone·Misoprostol) and the preparation of an alternative legislation following the decriminalization of abortion under the criminal law in Korea. On April 11, 2019, the Constitutional Court made a constitutional discordance adjudication on the provision on abortion under the Criminal Act. The ruling took effect on January 1st, 2021, after which Hyundai Pharm applied for the marketing authorization of Mifegymiso in July of that year. Hyundai Pham has signed an exclusive marketing and distribution agreement for the supply of Mifegymiso in Korea with the UK-based Linepharma International. The drug is being used in 75 countries after the World Health Organization designated the drug as an essential medicine in 2005, The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety had assured expedited review of the drug to Hyundai Pham before the company applied for the marketing authorization of Mifegymiso. Since then, the drug went through a preliminary review process for 4 months from February last year, during which it was implied that the drug may be commercialized within the year with an expedited review. The Mifegymiso that Hyundai Pharm applied for is a combination pack that contains one 200mg Mifepristone tablet and four Misoprostol 200ug tablets. 10 months have passed since the marketing approval, but there is still no news of its approval in Korea, with the drug still under review. The MFDS is known to have requested supplementary data to Hyundai Pharm in the review process, but the company requested a postponement of the deadline for submitting supplementary data, which has rendered the approval schedule unpredictable. In addition, the need to create a legislative environment in which abortion drugs can be used stably was emphasized. As controversies continue to arise over the approval of the abortion drug, the MFDS is having trouble promptly proceeding with the approval of the product. In November last year, the MFDS and MOHW held an expert advisory meeting on the issue, but the meeting ended fruitlessly due to strong objections by obstetricians and gynecologists. While civic groups are urging for the prompt approval of Mifegymiso, the medical community, mainly the Korean Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, is pointing out the dangers of Mifegymiso and insisting that it must undergo a bridging study in accordance with the principle of drug introductions in Korea. In addition, it seems difficult for domestic pharmaceutical companies to expedite the marketing of abortion drugs in the absence of revisions to legislation such as the Criminal Act and Maternal and Child Health Act that would contain specific conditions and regulations for allowing abortions. Ultimately, it seems that the approval of the first abortion drug in Korea will not be granted until all controversies in legislation and safety are revised and resolved.
- Company
- Companies are struggling with the form of post-COVID-19 work
- by Apr 20, 2022 06:06am
- As social distancing measures are lifted in two years, changes are also detected in the pharmaceutical industry. However, telecommuting is unlikely to disappear immediately. As more and more conferences attempt online and offline hybridization this year, they are also cautious about overseas business trips. ◆ Maintaining voluntary work for multinational companies, domestic companies are gradually ending telecommuting Since the 18th, all social distancing regulations, including restrictions on the number of private gatherings and business hours, have been lifted. In two years and one month, it has completely shifted to the stage of daily recovery. Telecommuting began in the pharmaceutical industry from early 2020 when COVID-19 began to spread. At that time, only a small number of multinational pharmaceutical companies introduced an autonomous work system that combines home and work. As the spread of COVID-19 spread across the country, domestic companies, led by multinational pharmaceutical companies, also implemented telecommuting. In particular, due to the frequent access to clinics, the pharmaceutical industry began working from home faster than the government. At the end of the distancing measures, many pharmaceutical companies that maintained telecommuting are in the mood to watch the trend more and decide rather than establishing new guidelines immediately. They say that it is too early to be relieved as more than 100,000 COVID-19 confirmed cases are still occurring a day. Multinational pharmaceutical companies that widely utilize telecommuting plan to maintain their current form of autonomous work even after the end of COVID-19. Korean subsidiaries of many multinational pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Roche, MSD, and Viatris, replied, "The guidelines recommending telecommuting will continue." An official from Viatris Korea said, "Since Omicron mutation became the dominant species, we have been working 100% autonomous for the safety of our employees." "With the government's lifting of social distancing, we will flexibly adjust our telecommuting and commuting two or three times a week in consultation with our manager," he said. An official from Amgen Korea said, "There were no separate guidelines for lifting telecommuting, and executives and employees who need to go to work at the office will continue to go out voluntarily." ◆ International Conference Online and Offline Due to COVID-19, most conferences and conferences have been converted online over the past two years. This year, many academic societies are still taking the form of a hybrid that maintains online or combines online and offline. The JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, which is considered the world's largest pharmaceutical bio investment event, maintained its online format in January. This is because omicron mutations are showing signs of re-proliferation around the world. The AACR held this month was held in person for the first time in three years, but the ASCO, scheduled for June, will be online and offline at the same time. In addition, a number of conferences, including EULAR, ADI Conference, and EHA, will be held both online and offline. Pharmaceutical companies are considering overseas business trips more because there are many conferences that take the form of a hybrid. An official from a multinational pharmaceutical company said, "We are looking at the data to be announced at the ASCO this year, and local participation has not been confirmed. However, as the academic societies also seem to be recovering from their daily lives, we will consider business trips later." Another multinational pharmaceutical company official also said, "We have not decided on an overseas business trip yet," adding, "It is expected to start face-to-face with overseas meetings that are essential." There are still concerns about new variations," he explained.
- Opinion
- [Reporter’s View] Patience is a virtue...for drugs?
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Apr 20, 2022 06:05am
- Price falls when supply increases. The same goes for the pharmaceutical market. Although the government can reduce fiscal spending by inducing competition between pharmaceutical companies, this would lead to a delay in NHI reimbursement listing. As we enter the era of high-priced drugs, the government has been exercising the ‘art of waiting.’ If new drugs of the same class apply for listing and the approval of its latecomer(s) is expected soon, it is not uncommon for the authorities to concurrently conduct reimbursement deliberations for the two, even three new drugs at once. The combination therapy using 'faslodex’ for breast cancer that was approved in 2019 was one example, and JAK inhibitors in atopic dermatitis and CGRP inhibitors in migraines are also being discussed in groups despite the different dates of their application submission. Due to the high price of the drugs, the government can let the market play its positive function and trigger pricing competition between the pharmaceutical companies. Fiscal savings through such measures under the NHI system can open up new opportunities as the savings can be used to improve coverage for the patients. But for drugs, time is of the essence. It would be optimal for all drugs of the same class to be approved and apply for listing at a similar period, but the reality isn’t so clear-cut. The application period often differs by 6 months to even 1 year at the most. Delays due to other factors can also play a role, but this difference in the ‘application submission period’ itself is also important. Also, the position of each pharmaceutical company may be sharply different. Companies that applied in advance desire independent evaluations as preoccupying the market by entering first is advantageous, apart from the price. Also, the clinical data issue remains. Even new drugs with the same mechanism of action can have different values depending on their indication and clinical results. The drugs' indications influence reimbursement standards and the value demonstrated by clinical data affects drug prices. Therefore, there is no real right answer to this issue. The government needs to well weigh the pros and cons. It’s not all about the numbers - the profits and losses – and the specificity of each drug needs to be considered. Therefore, all the stakeholders need to work together to reach a consensus on a rational solution that takes into account Korea's health insurance system and the ecosystem of Korea’s pharmaceutical industry.
- Company
- Homegrown Rosuzet·K-CAB sell over ₩10 bil a month
- by Chon, Seung-Hyun Apr 20, 2022 06:05am
- New drugs developed by Korean pharmaceutical companies are showing strength in the prescription market. Hanmi Pharmaceutical’s Rosuzet and HK Inno. N’s K-CAB has recorded over ₩10 billion in monthly sales and made a good start. According to the market research institution UBIST on the 19th, the hyperlipidemia treatment Lipitor recorded No.1 in Q1 making ₩48.8 billion in outpatient prescriptions in Q1 this year. This is a 1.8% decrease from the same period of the previous year, but still a solid lead over the runner-up. Lipitor is Pfizer Korea’s dyslipidemia treatment that contains atorvastatin that was introduced to the Korean market in 1999. Despite the fierce competition with the entry of around 100 generics after patent expiry, the original Lipitor has been boasting its strong influence over the prescription drug market. Viatris, which was launched through the merger of Pfizer’s off-patent drug division Upjohn and Mylan, has been in charge of its sales since November 2020. The homegrown drugs, Hanmi Pharmaceutical’s Rosuzet and HK Inno. N’s K-CAB continued its strong growth. Rosuzet recorded No.2 in sales among all outpatient prescriptions with ₩32.7 billion. Rosuzet is a combination drug for hyperlipidemia that was released at the end of 2015. Rosuzet has been experiencing rapid growth thanks to its market preoccupation effect and the popularity of the statin and ezetimibe combinations K-CAB’s prescription performance in Q1 had also expanded 23.3% from the previous year to record ₩30.1 billion. K-CAB, which was released in March 2019, is a new P-CAB class antiulcer drug. It had first created a sensation selling ₩30.9 billion in the first year of its release and has exceeded ₩100 billion in annual sales last year, only three years since its release. Unless something major comes up, sales of Rosuzet and K-CAB will again easily exceed ₩100 billion this year. Among homegrown drugs, Daewoong Bio’s Gliatamin, Chong Kun Dang’s Chong Kun Dang Gliatirin, and LG Chem’s Zemimet have made the ranks in outpatient prescriptions. Sales of the brain function enhancer that contains choline alphoscerate such as Gliatamin and Chong Kun Dang Gliatirin recorded ₩26.5 billion and ₩23.6 billion in prescriptions in Q1 this year. Despite the difficulties, the class is facing due to controversy over its efficacy, reimbursement reductions, and order for negotiations to redeem paid reimbursement expenses, the drugs have shown off their continued strength in the market. Sales of Gliatamin fell 0.4% YoY but continued to be popular in the market. Chong Kun Dang Gliatirin’s sales rose 10.5% YoY and showed high growth. Prescriptions of LG Chem’s antidiabetic combo drug Zemimet rose 7.0% YoY to record ₩23 billion and rank No.8 in outpatient prescriptions in Q1 this year. Zemimet is a combination of the new DPP-4 inhibitor class Zemiglo (gemigliptin) that was developed by LG Chem and metformin. The performance of Plavix among off-patent drugs by multinational pharmaceutical companies has also been noticeable. Sanofi-Aventis’s antithrombotic drug Plavix has sold 11.5% more than the previous year to record ₩28.9 billion in prescriptions, ranking at No.4. In Korea, Plavix is sold in partnership with Dongwha Pharm since 2017.
- Product
- The KPA establishes an emergency TFT
- by Apr 20, 2022 06:05am
- As the presidential transition committee is expected to include the permission of non-face-to-face medical treatment in its national agenda and fully review the revision of the law, the KPA has begun to come up with measures. The Chairman Choi Kwang-hoon formed a TFT related to non-face-to-face treatment and convened his first meeting today (19th). Through TFT, the company plans to set up a mid- to long-term plan for non-face-to-face treatment. Chairman Choi had already expressed concern about the government's push for telemedicine earlier this month. "The problems caused by non-face-to-face treatment in the pharmacist society will disappear after the MOHW's notice of temporary non-face-to-face treatment is completed, but the new government's policy will not disappear. Chairman Choi said through Dailypharm on the 19th, "We planned a TFT to respond to non-face-to-face treatment, and we will have our first meeting today," adding, "The TFT name and mid- to long-term plans will be established here." First of all, the KPA has a conservative position on non-face-to-face treatment The KPA said, "We express strong regret over Yoon's attempt to legislate temporary non-face-to-face treatment, and urge him to actively abolish the current temporary non-face-to-face treatment permit notice. We urge experts to pay attention to the opinions of health care groups so that public health rights can be prioritized over industrial development, and we will take all measures to prevent acts that destroy the health care system." Front-line pharmacists also cannot understand the transition committee's non-face-to-face treatment innovation startup meeting. "We don't know how the KPA is responding with any will. However, it is not understandable that the Youth Communication TF of the Presidential Transition Committee will hold a meeting with private companies and solve this part due to job problems, it is something that the KPA should strongly block." Another executive of the Pharmaceutical Association also said, "In the end, dispensing pharmacies in the form of dispensing factories will be created nationwide. Discussions and countermeasures should be made at the medical organization level."
- Policy
- Expanding the use of Paxlovid with underlying dz over 12 yrs
- by Lee, Jeong-Hwan Apr 20, 2022 06:05am
- COVID PO Tx PaxlovidThe government said it is considering expanding the scope of the prescription for Paxlovid, an oral treatment for COVID-19, to "underlying patients aged 12 or older." However, considering the fact that there are side effects, it is said that various decision-making processes such as collecting opinions from experts should be carried out. This revealed the government's position on the presidential transition committee's announcement that it is considering expanding the prescription of the treatment to those with underlying diseases over the age of 12. Lee Sang-won, head of the epidemiological investigation and analysis team at the Central Disease Control Headquarters, explained at a regular briefing on the 19th, "Paxlovid, PO treatment, is undergoing clinical trials in other countries overseas and is reviewing data. I understand that there are no special abnormalities overseas regarding problems such as side effects," he said. "We are confirming that there are no problems such as securing supplies. We are currently considering expanding the target of the treatment from people aged 60 or older, immunocompromised, underlying patients in their 40s and 50s to underlying patients aged 12 or older, and expanding local clinics." Regarding the recent decline in the COVID-19 epidemic, the fatality rate does not fall below 0.1%, Lee said, "It is because the main class where the incidence of patients is decreasing is young and the age of 60 or older is decreasing, but the rate of decline is relatively slow compared to other age groups." Among the cumulative COVID-19 deaths, the proportion of the elderly aged 60 or older exceeds 95%, with most of the deaths occurring in the elderly aged 60 or older, which is a high-risk group.
- Product
- Non-face-to-face tx companies are appealing for regulations
- by Jung, Heung-Jun Apr 20, 2022 06:05am
- Non-face-to-face treatment companies are appealing for regulatory improvement ahead of the abolition of social distancing and easing the level of infectious diseases. Pharmacists are protesting that the reason for non-face-to-face is disappearing and that they should take steps to temporarily terminate the permit as scheduled. According to the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the 18th, the most frequent complaint among requests for improved regulations in the health and medical sectors was non-face-to-face treatment. In February, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy temporarily approved the "non-face-to-face treatment counseling service for overseas citizens" through regulatory sandbox deliberation. The two approved companies are Blue Ant and Gooddoc. Companies have urged regulations to improve for the continuous operation of non-face-to-face treatment services, which are limited to "temporary permission." An official from the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry said, "It is temporarily allowed, but there are many opinions to request improvement because it can be terminated if the infectious disease level is lowered," adding, "The MOHW does not have a regulatory sandbox, so there are many companies requesting non-face-to-face treatment." If the infectious disease level is adjusted from the existing first grade to the second grade, it is highly likely that the crisis alert will be lowered, which is a serious stage. Since the government has decided to operate non-face-to-face treatment only at the serious stage, it will be completely converted to face-to-face treatment at the end of the serious stage. The industry has insisted on continuous requests for improvement, but related discussions have not yet been made. Discussions between the government and stakeholders are expected to take place soon because they have announced guidelines for easing quarantine for the purpose of With COVID-19. There were many opinions that front-line pharmacists should stop non-face-to-face treatment by temporarily abolishing the notice of permission as scheduled, but some also suggested that non-face-to-face treatment will be maintained. Pharmacist A in Seoul said, "The medical community seems to have changed its attitude a lot. If non-face-to-face treatment is maintained as it is, it seems to be preparing with a focus on what authority to take," he said. He worried, "The more cumulative patients the more difficult it will be to prevent." Another pharmacist said, "The reason why we allowed it in the first place was because of concerns that the number of confirmed patients could increase while visiting clinics and pharmacies. Now, there is no reason to maintain it in a situation where confirmed patients go directly," he said.
