Government Moves to Ban Hoarding of Syringes and Needles to Prevent Shortages

Amid concerns over unstable supplies of medical products caused by the war in the Middle East, the government has taken strong action, including a ban on hoarding syringes and needles and on-site inspections.
On the 14th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) announced that it held the "3rd Health and Medical Organizations Meeting for Middle East War Response" at Conference House Dalgaebi Jeong-dong Branch in Jung District, Seoul, together with health and medical organizations and related ministries. The meeting, chaired by Minister of Health and Welfare Jeong Eun-kyeong (photo), focused on monitoring results for medical product supplies, key measures taken so far, and future response plans.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety put into effect at midnight the "Notice on the Prohibition of Hoarding of Syringes and Needles." This step comes after signs of supply instability, including some online sellers reporting out-of-stock cases. Currently, petroleum chemical feedstocks such as naphtha are being preferentially allocated for the production of medical products, so there is no major disruption to production itself, but distortions in the distribution process have been identified as a problem.
Under the notice, manufacturers and sellers are prohibited from excessive stockpiling for profiteering, refusing to sell, or concentrating supplies on specific buyers. Existing businesses may not store quantities exceeding 150% of their average monthly sales from the previous year for more than five days, and sales may not exceed 110% of that average. New businesses are also restricted from holding unsold inventory beyond a certain period.
Monitoring of violations will also be strengthened. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will operate a reporting center to receive suspected hoarding cases and will form joint inspection teams with local governments to conduct on-site checks. Violators will face strict measures, including criminal complaints.
In parallel, local governments nationwide will carry out an "Emergency Field Investigation of Medical Products Facing Supply Instability" targeting general hospitals and other medical institutions.
The government is also pushing support measures to ease the burden on companies. It is discussing with related ministries the inclusion of small and medium-sized medical product manufacturers in the targets eligible for the Emergency Management Stability Fund, and is reviewing fee adjustments that reflect rising raw material prices and exchange rate fluctuations.
Minister of Health and Welfare Jeong Eun-kyeong stated, "We will secure sufficient raw materials to ensure there is no disruption in the supply of medical products and block hoarding that exploits public anxiety to stabilize distribution order," adding, "We ask both manufacturers and distributors, as well as medical institutions, to actively cooperate with government policy."
wonder@fnnews.com Jung Sang-hee
wonder@fnnews.com Jung Sang-hee Reporter