Seoul Medical Association reports 79% patient opposition to ingredient-based prescribing

A survey conducted by the Seoul Medical Association reveals that 79.2% of patients oppose the legalization of ingredient-based prescribing. The study, which surveyed 2,429 patients across 25 districts in Seoul, indicates significant anxiety regarding changes in medication appearance, color, or brand.

Key findings show that 87.6% of respondents feel more secure knowing the specific product name of their prescribed medication. Furthermore, 89.7% of participants identified prescribing physicians as the most trusted authority for medication selection, compared to only 4.8% for pharmacists. Concerns regarding legal liability in the event of side effects following substitute dispensing were high, with 92.3% of respondents expressing worry.

The Seoul Medical Association is using these results to advocate for maintaining brand-name prescribing rights and ensuring clinical responsibility remains unified. They have proposed a transition toward a ‘national choice-based division of labor’ system, which would allow patients to choose between in-hospital dispensing and external pharmacies, particularly for elderly, chronic, or emergency patients.