The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety held discussions with eight medical organizations to review on-the-ground drug supply conditions and share plans to introduce an inventory-sharing system for emergency imported medicines.
The ministry and the Korea Orphan and Essential Drug Center announced on April 2 that they held a meeting on March 31 with eight professional organizations participating in the “2026 Field Drug Supply Monitoring Network” to discuss operational plans and share current updates.
The monitoring network, established in 2017 by the ministry and the center, is an information-gathering system designed to continuously track pharmaceutical supply conditions and respond accordingly.
The initiative aims to quickly develop rational response measures by collecting expert opinions on patient impact and the availability of alternatives when supply imbalances occur.
During the meeting, the ministry and the center shared response cases involving recent supply disruptions and shortages. They also outlined preparations for introducing an “inventory-sharing system for emergency imported medicines” to ensure stable supply and efficient distribution management.
Participating organizations exchanged information on key issues currently facing the pharmaceutical market.
The ministry said it plans to strengthen institutional and administrative support to ensure timely access to essential medicines for patient treatment and to further reinforce a stable pharmaceutical supply system.