The government will launch a service to directly deliver needed medical supplies to people with rare diseases who are struggling to obtain them due to supply disruptions from the Middle East war, in cooperation with a telemedicine platform.
On the 4th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said it will begin, starting today, a direct-delivery service of medical supplies for home-based patients with rare diseases in partnership with the telemedicine platform Soldoc. Minister Jung Eun-kyeong held a roundtable at the Seoul National University Hospital Rare Disease Center with patient groups, medical staff, and platform officials and unveiled the implementation plan for the service.
Recently, as prices for medical consumables have risen and supply has become unstable due to the impact of the Middle East war, people with rare diseases who manage their conditions at home with syringes and IV sets have faced difficulties obtaining essential medical supplies.
Under the service, when a person with a rare disease or a caregiver applies for medical supplies via the Soldoc app or online, eligibility is verified by linking with the public corporation's system and then the items are delivered. General nonreimbursable medical supplies can be received by courier after payment.
For items eligible for care expense benefits that require a doctor's prescription, purchases are made after a physician consultation via telemedicine. The company handles the National Health Insurance claim on behalf of the patient, who only needs to pay the out-of-pocket share.
Items currently offered are medical consumables needed for home care, including syringes, IV sets, suction tips, suction catheters, sterile saline, and disinfectant swabs.
The ministry will consider expanding eligibility to include people with severe intractable diseases and children with severe conditions who receive care expense support, and it also plans to promote delivery of medicines in emergencies.
Telemedicine was institutionalized by an amendment to the Medical Service Act in Dec. 2025 and is set to take effect in Dec. 2026. For people with rare diseases, telemedicine is allowed even at hospital-level or higher medical institutions, and delivery of medicines and consumables is permitted.
Minister Jung said, "The state will take responsibility to ensure people are not marginalized because their conditions are rare," and added, "We will examine the medical consumable expense burden and provide support if needed."