The government plans to finalize and announce the list of second listed drug reimbursement feasibility evaluation (clinical reevaluation) and the first full-fledged reevaluation in next month.

However, conducting the reevaluation using international reference pricing (IRP) would be physically impossible in a mean time, because of clashing opinions and standard and principle establishment requiring extra time to establish.

As for the immunotherapy Keytruda, the Cancer Deliberation Committee is expected to talk about the drug this week as the Reimbursement Standard Expansion Council has failed to reach an agreement.

On Nov. 18, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) presented a series of insured drug policy plans centering pharmaceutical reimbursements, such as the progress on the pilot and full clinical reevaluation and the immunotherapy reimbursement expansion.

First, the list of the first full reevaluation subject substances and drugs, following the pilot reevaluation on the cognitive function enhancer choline alfoscerate would be unveiled in December. While MOHW is currently reviewing the list of subjects, the ministry said the Post-marketing Evaluation Subcommittee and Drug Reimbursement Evaluation Committee would select and announce the final list of subjects for the full reevaluation.

The full reevaluation would follow a guideline constructed based on the pilot reevaluation on choline alfoscerate.

However, the government is likely to set different standards and principles on reevaluation with IRP as the stakeholders are deeply conflicted with the approach. Expecting the government to take more time on the reevaluation type, the IRP reevaluation would be unlikely to be included in the first list of full reevaluation.

Moreover, the government official stated it could not reach a final decision on the cost sharing plan submitted by MSD Korea, although the ministry convened a meeting with the Reimbursement Standard Expansion Council on Nov. 17 to discuss about immunotherapy Keytruda. As the council demanded additional review, so the government would have to report the discussion progress to the Cancer Deliberation Committee at a meeting scheduled on Nov. 25.

The government disclosed the weighted drug pricing benefit reevaluation standard and plan (for reevaluated drugs), compiled based on the ‘Standard and Regulation on the National Health Insurance Reimbursement’ and the’ Standard of Drug Decision and Adjustment.’ And regarding the plan, the government would hold a meeting with the pharmaceutical industry organization in the last week of the month to survey their opinions. The key part is the condition to extend the weighted pricing benefit, because MOHW plans to have the Drug Reimbursement Evaluation Committee to use the new conditions reflecting the collected opinions.