Korea Orphan & Essential Drug Center (KOEDC) said that it is having a hard time securing rare, essential pharmaceuticals shipped from overseas as the COVID-19 outbreak has grounded or sharply cut flights coming to Korea.

“As the number of overseas flights has sharply fallen due to the new coronavirus, it has started to affect the center’s import of essential orphan drugs,” the agency said. “For example, Verorab, a rabies treatment, which was scheduled to arrive at the center on March 2, still has not left Vietnam as the airlines in the country have postponed flights to Korea.”

The center will do its best to solve the delay in receiving overseas medicines, the agency added.

The KOEDC also said it would immediately notify patients if there is a change in the supply situations of essential orphan drugs because of COVID-19.