Pharmaceutical Affairs Law (South Korea)
Encyclopedia
The Pharmaceutical Affairs Law of South Korea
is a law regulating the manufacturing, importation, and sale of drugs and medical devices.
patients, as the test strip papers required by glucose meter
s used for home blood glucose monitoring
were considered pharmacological supplies under the law, and thus legally could only be sold by pharmacies. Medical supply shops were tacitly permitted to sell the test strips as well, but a 2005 crackdown on 200 such shops in Suseo-dong
, Gangnam-gu
, Seoul
brought the law into the spotlight. Diabetics complained that different meters required different test strips, and pharmacies did not always carry the required brands. An official at the Korea Food & Drug Administration
said the government might resolve the issue by reclassifying the test strips as non-pharmacological supplies, but the issue would take time due to vested interest
s.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
is a law regulating the manufacturing, importation, and sale of drugs and medical devices.
Effects
The law has brought difficulties to diabetesDiabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced...
patients, as the test strip papers required by glucose meter
Glucose meter
A glucose meter is a medical device for determining the approximate concentration of glucose in the blood. It is a key element of home blood glucose monitoring by people with diabetes mellitus or hypoglycemia...
s used for home blood glucose monitoring
Blood glucose monitoring
Blood glucose monitoring is a way of testing the concentration of glucose in the blood . Particularly important in the care of diabetes mellitus, a blood glucose test is performed by piercing the skin to draw blood, then applying the blood to a chemically active disposable 'test-strip'...
were considered pharmacological supplies under the law, and thus legally could only be sold by pharmacies. Medical supply shops were tacitly permitted to sell the test strips as well, but a 2005 crackdown on 200 such shops in Suseo-dong
Suseo-dong
Suseo-dong is a ward of Gangnam-gu in Seoul, South Korea. The name, Suseo originated from the feature of Han River running through the western part of the region. Suseo-dong is also home to the Tancheon park.-External links:...
, Gangnam-gu
Gangnam-gu
Gangnam-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the most affluent areas of Seoul and is located in the southeast of the city...
, Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
brought the law into the spotlight. Diabetics complained that different meters required different test strips, and pharmacies did not always carry the required brands. An official at the Korea Food & Drug Administration
Korea Food & Drug Administration
The Korea Food & Drug Administration is a South Korea government agency responsible for promoting the public health by ensuring the safety and efficiency of foods, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and cosmetics as well as supporting the development of the food and pharmaceutical industries...
said the government might resolve the issue by reclassifying the test strips as non-pharmacological supplies, but the issue would take time due to vested interest
Vested interest
Vested interest is a communication theory that seeks to explain how influences impact behaviors. As defined by William Crano, vested interest refers to the amount that an attitude object is deemed hedonically relevant by the attitude holder...
s.