Pharmacies required to report prescription drug sales to veterinary clinics

The Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service announced Sunday it has launched a reporting regime requiring pharmacies to disclose sales of human prescription drugs to veterinary clinics.

Under the system, pharmacies must submit records of prescription drugs sold to animal hospitals to the Korea Pharmaceutical Information Center by the last day of the month following the sale.

Submissions must include information on the purchasing veterinary clinic as well as details on the drugs sold — standard product codes, quantities, dates and amounts.

Pharmacies that fail to submit the required records may face a fine of up to 1 million won (about $651) under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act.

Submission forms and instructions are available on the HIRA website and through the Korea Pharmaceutical Information System (KPIS).

Pharmacies reporting sales to animal hospitals must first register on the healthcare institution portal using a joint certificate issued by the National Health Insurance Service or the National Pension Service, then log in to KPIS to submit their records using the designated form.

Earlier this year, HIRA conducted education and outreach sessions for pharmacies and software companies from February through May, and briefed stakeholders at the Korean Pharmaceutical Association's academic conference in May and at an information session on June 11.

HIRA said it expects the new reporting regime to help curb the misuse and overuse of prescription drugs and support a transparent drug distribution management system centered on public safety.