The Ministery of Food and Drug Safety began on-site inspections with related ministries to prepare for instability in the supply of IV sets. As concerns grow over potential disruptions in the supply of materials and supplies due to instability in the Middle East, the aim is to directly hear industry difficulties and speed up the development of response measures.
The Ministery of Food and Drug Safety said on Apr. 8 that, together with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, it visited IV set manufacturers' production sites and held an industry meeting. The meeting was arranged to check the status of materials and supplies procurement and production conditions and to discuss cooperation measures to expand the supply of IV sets.
At the meeting, four IV set manufacturers with top market shares in Korea attended. The companies, worried that prolonged conflict in the Middle East could shake the procurement of materials and supplies, requested government-level measures to secure a stable supply of materials and supplies. They also proposed simplifying approval procedures when temporarily changing parts and raw materials.
In addition, given the increased burden from rising costs, an opinion was raised that appropriate reimbursement rates reflecting this are needed.
Oh Yu-Kyoung, head of the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety, said, "We will swiftly proceed with change approvals for medical devices such as IV sets and, in cooperation with related ministries including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, push for the priority supply of naphtha," adding, "We will work closely to ensure that medical devices essential in clinical settings can be supplied stably."