South Korean veterinary hospital avoids inspections despite record propofol use

A veterinary hospital in Yangju, which recorded the highest propofol prescriptions in South Korea last year with 4,229 units, has not undergone a single inspection by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in the past five years.

Data submitted to the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee revealed that the illegal leakage of propofol at this facility was discovered through a police investigation rather than routine government inspections.

There are growing concerns regarding the management of medical narcotics in the Seoul metropolitan area. Out of 28 veterinary hospitals nationwide found violating regulations during recent inspections, 10 were located in Gyeonggi and Incheon. Major violations included delays in reporting narcotic use and errors in medical records or prescriptions.

Nationwide, the prescription of medical narcotics in veterinary clinics rose by 56.6% between 2021 and last year, while propofol prescriptions specifically increased by 58.9% during the same period.