Health Minister Jeong Eun-kyung pledged swift government action to ensure stable supplies of medical products amid concerns over disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Jeong visited a local internal medicine clinic and a nearby pharmacy in Asia, on April 6 to gather on-site feedback regarding the supply of pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
The government plans to quickly identify and respond to items requiring focused management among medical products with high demand in clinical settings and essential for patient treatment, aiming to ease supply concerns.
In this context, the Korean Society of Nephrology has urged its members and related suppliers to refrain from excessive stockpiling of dialysis supplies amid instability in the Middle East.
The ministry also said it reached an agreement the same day with 12 medical organizations on a “joint declaration for stabilizing the supply of medical products.”
The declaration includes measures such as forming response teams within each organization to monitor supply conditions and enhance cooperation.
Jeong said the government will closely monitor the situation, manage supplies thoroughly and respond promptly to ensure there are no disruptions in the availability of medical products during what she described as a serious national crisis.
She also called on medical institutions and pharmacies to continue focusing on patient care and dispensing, expressing confidence in the government’s efforts to maintain stable supply conditions.