At the end of last year, the government is about to begin the main evaluation of the five active ingredients following the pilot project of reevaluation of the adequacy of registered drugs for Choline alfoscerate (reevaluation of the benefits of registered drugs). It seems to have taken into account the time taken for the procedure, such as review and re-evaluation, review of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, and report to the Health Insurance Policy Review Committee.

The government (insurer) plans to prepare a system for recovering drug costs for damages in the first half of the first half of the first half of the year in relation to the increase in administrative litigation, which has become more controversial due to the suspension of execution of choline alfoscerate.

Yang Yoon-seok, head of the health insurance department of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, reported the reevaluation plan as a negative agenda at the 2nd plenary meeting of the 2021 the Health Insurance Policy Review Committeeon the afternoon of the 29th, and then met with the Korea Special Press Association to explain the government's position.

He said, "I know the pharmaceutical bio industry is struggling with the re-evaluation of registered drug benefits," and "It will be conducted on an annual basis, but in the long term, we are also seeking a plan to evaluate it every 4 to 5 years (regularly). "

The following is the contents of questions and answers with Yang.

▶ It is understood that it reported to the Health Insurance Policy Review Committee that a plan to compensate for financial losses due to suspension of execution was prepared in the first half of the year. Please explain this.

“The government is aware of the problem of benefits due to the suspension of execution. Last year, the National Assembly also pointed out this issue. Measures to improve the system (which allow the reimbursement of drug costs, etc. paid during the suspension of execution) is being reviewed internally. We are not in the process of making any specific disclosures yet.”

▶ The contract to redeem the Choline alfoscerate drug has not been negotiated since 56 pharmaceutical companies filed lawsuits. The deadline is until the 10th of this month, are there any plans to extend the negotiation deadline in consideration of the litigation situation?

"The negotiation period has not been completed yet. I think the NHIS will proceed with the negotiations as much as possible within the deadline. It will report the status of the negotiations after the negotiation period is over, and I will review the details and review again. "

▶ If the system is improved, is it a premise to amend the law?

"Improving the system doesn't mean amendment of the law."

▶ Last year, the NHIS conducted a research on this. Do you proceed based on the result?

"I'll refer to that, but how to actually legislate is a matter for the government to review and decide."

▶ Does it mean to proceed with government legislation?

"The form of legislation has not yet been decided."

▶ This is a question about the reevaluation of the five ingredients that will be notified to the pharmaceutical company this month. The re-evaluation plan has been reported to the committee, please tell me the direction of the future.

"It seems that the third quarter will have to go through the process of re-evaluating all five ingredients. Eventually, the re-evaluation will not be able to proceed in an annual cycle. Therefore, it can be considered that the process is being carried out in an annual plan."

▶ Do you have anything else to comment?

"Last year, I had a lot of motivation and ambition as the head of the insurance drug department, but I had a lot of difficulties with COVID-19. Re-evaluation of benefits would be an inconvenient issue for the pharmaceutical industry. However, when applying benefits, it is correct to provide effective medicines to the public when applying benefits. Although it is currently undergoing annual evaluation, it is also seeking a plan for a long-term evaluation for the next four to five years, and a series of lawsuits filed by companies are guaranteed rights under the constitution, that's why a full legal review will be needed for the (under review) redemption bill."