The National Health Insurance Service (Chairman Sung Sang-chul) has published its first report on Korea's drug pricing and reimbursement policy, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of health insurance.

The state agency made the report based on the “PPRI Pharma Profile template” as suggested by Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement Information (PPRI), to share information with foreign countries and promote interactive system development.

It covers the entire drug pricing policy, including the health care system, the drug market, and drug pricing procedures and dosage management.

PPRI is a network of decision-making bodies related to pharmaceuticals such as health departments and insurers in each country, mainly in European countries. It collects data related to drug prices management systems, such as drug costs and insurance payment-deciding methods, as well as shares related information.

PPRI involves more than 90 organizations in 46 countries, including 28 EU member states and non-European countries, including Korea and Canada. About 20 countries have published PPRI reports on the PPRI Pharma Profile template and provide information on their drug cost management system and cooperate closely with one another.

"It is meaningful that we have systematically organized the overall drug cost management system of Korea for the first time when many advanced countries in Europe are interested in our drug price system," an official at NHIS said. “This report will help interested parties, including the pharmaceutical industry and civic groups, to understand the system better and operate it more smoothly. It will also promote the excellence of the Korean system internationally and expand exchanges with foreign health authorities and underwriters."

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