In Korea, patients with cancer and other rare and serious diseases pay only 5-10 percent of the total medical costs for five years from the first day of the diagnosis under the national health insurance program.However, even after the five-year period ends, cancer patients should be allowed to pay l
Despite Korea's plans to treat Covid-19 similarly to influenza and discontinue case counting as early as next month, the pandemic has resurged recently.Last week, the number of new cases increased by about 40 percent compared to the week before, with the number of daily cases surpassing 40,000 for t
The Ministry of Health and Welfare will subsidize one public and one private general hospital in the non-Seoul metro region capable of performing epilepsy surgery to introduce robotic equipment.The ministry will receive applications from non-Seoul hospitals wanting to use surgical robots for epileps
Experts pointed out that it is urgent to match technology demanders and suppliers to develop the AI-based drug development ecosystem.The Korea Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (KPBMA) held the second meeting of the AI-based New Drug Development Council on Wednesday to d
After a second-year elementary school teacher took her own life, psychiatrists called for a psychological support system for teachers. They pointed out that teachers are "emotional workers" who need attention and care for their mental health.On Tuesday, a teacher in her 20s was found dead at Seoyi E
Ten years after a value-added tax was imposed on cosmetic surgery, there are calls for abolishing it, saying the nation should reflect the changed perceptions and values of cosmetic surgery on it.The Korean Association of Plastic Surgeons issued a press release on Thursday, calling for the abolition
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) said Friday that it published a guideline regarding the clinical pharmacological considerations for antibody-drug conjugate (ADCs) to help Korean companies enter early-stage clinical trials.ADCs have recently emerged as an essential platform for developing
The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has decided to fine a total of 40.9 billion won ($32.2 million) on 32 companies, including GSK Korea, Yuhan Corp., GC, and SK discovery, for colluding in 170 vaccine tenders ordered by the Public Procurement Service for more than six years.One vaccine maker (GSK), six
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) said on Thursday that it published three English guidelines related to digital therapeutics (DTx) and artificial intelligence (AI)-based medical devices.In particular, the documents include guidance on the review and approval of AI-based medical devices an
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has refuted criticism that patients suffer due to its hasty recall of an epilepsy drug.In a news release on Tuesday, the ministry said it was aware of the shortage of Sanofi's epilepsy and infantile spasms drug Sabril (vigabatrin) and would supply a large
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) is taking administrative action against Korean pharmaceutical companies that advertised the generic drugs of Forxiga (dapagliflozin) as effective for chronic kidney failure and other effects than approved indications.According to ministry sources Wednesday
“Korea has become the capital of precocious puberty treatment,” the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) said recently.The agency added that it plans to strengthen reimbursement management for precocious puberty treatment, pointing out that the popular misconception of related drugs
Starting in October, the government will reduce health insurance coverage for brain and cerebrovascular MRI examinations.The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Monday it has revised the notice on “details on the application standards and methods of benefits” to that effect. The revised notice will
Korea is seeing an increase in malaria cases again. Malaria is a vector-borne disease that is transmitted through mosquitoes. It is known as one of the infectious diseases with the highest global burden of disease, with approximately 247 million cases in 84 countries in 2021, according to the World
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) said Friday that it has officially approved Paxlovid, Pfizer's oral Covid-19 treatment.Paxlovid had previously received emergency use approval (EUA) during the Covid-19 pandemic in December of 2021.However, the drug ministry granted full approval this time
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) issued an administrative notice Friday that it would establish, revise and abolish 166 Korean Standards (KS) in the medical devices area and receive comments until Aug. 13.The notice is designed to improve the quality and safety of Korean medical devices a
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) said Thursday that it will maintain the exsintguse standard for aspartame, amid ongoing controversy over its possible carcinogenic effects.The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECF
Experts pointed out once again on Wednesday that physician-assisted suicide could become an “inevitable option” instead of a “choice of last resort” for terminally ill patients to die with dignity.They argued that patients may be forced to choose doctor-aided suicide because it is easier and less ex
The Ministry of Health and Welfare has reportedly sent a letter requesting the withdrawal of an e-cigarette show to be held at an indoor venue.According to the health ministry, exhibition organizer The Fairs will hold the Korea Vape Show 2023 for three days at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, fr
The Ministry of Health and Welfare has expressed concern over the National Health and Medical Workers’ Union’s announcement of a general strike on Thursday.Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyoo-hong held the second emergency inspection meeting on Tuesday to review emergency treatment plans and the