Kim Taek-woo, president of the Korean Medical Association Organization, said on the 19th that he will "oppose attempts to mandate ingredient-name prescribing." Kim made the remarks at the 78th regular general assembly of delegates held at the Dragon City Hotel in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, that day.
Ingredient-name prescribing is when a physician prescribes a drug by its active ingredient instead of a brand name. If a physician prescribes acetaminophen (ingredient name) instead of Tylenol (brand name), the pharmacist selects one of the medicines with that ingredient and provides it to the patient.
Pharmacist groups believe that introducing ingredient-name prescribing will improve patient convenience and reduce National Health Insurance expenditure. Because original drugs and generics approved domestically are equivalent in therapeutic effect, they say prescribing by ingredient name is acceptable. The medical community opposes ingredient-name prescribing, saying that when a patient experiences adverse effects, responsibility becomes unclear.
Kim said, "We will not compromise going forward on physicians' right to practice, licensing authority, and professional autonomy," adding, "We will oppose attempts to blur licensing boundaries, ingredient-name prescribing, and special judicial police powers for the National Health Insurance Service."
Kim urged joining forces with the government to restore a medical field damaged by conflict in medical policy. He said, "The starting point for normalizing health care is physicians treating patients with conviction in their proper roles and creating an environment where juniors can receive proper education and training," adding, "I hope policies will be designed to protect the front lines."