Breaking News: Doctors’ Prescription Abuse in South Korea
Urgent Report Highlights Widespread Drug Self-Prescriptions and Illicit Practices
Widespread Doctors’ Self-Prescriptions Revealed
A recent investigative report by Dong-A Ilbo has exposed a massive loophole in South Korea’s narcotic management laws. Despite the ban on doctors self-prescribing Propofol, the majority of self-prescribed drugs by doctors are painkillers and other addictive substances, highlighting a critical lapse in regulatory control.
Shocking Case of Over-Prescription by a Gwangju Doctor
Last year, Dr. A, a hospital employee in Gwangju, allegedly prescribed massive doses of opioids, including 140,000 Oxycodone pills. This unacceptable self-prescription amounting to approximately 340 pills per day has urged immediate reforms in how doctors manage self-prescriptions. In February, a ban on Propofol self-prescriptions took effect, yet only accounted for 0.5% of the total cases.
Report Exposes Extent of Self-Medication
According to a report submitted by the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, self-prescriptions by doctors in the last three years totaled 8,358 cases. Hypnotics like Zolpidem topped the list with 37.7% of the total cases, calling for stricter regulatory measures on non-Propofol drugs.
Forgery and Theft of Medical Records Revealed
Some doctors have been reported to steal identities or forge medical records to secure self-prescriptions. Instances where doctors prescription drugs were registered under family members’ names or false records underscores the severity of ethical breaches within the medical community, necessitating stronger punishments.
Radiquet Impact on Patients and Society
Experts caution that these practices not only risk doctors’ addictions but also patient safety. Dr. Lee Bum-jin emphasizes the importance of legally banning self-prescriptions to prevent abuse and promote public health. As of now, South Korea’s laws hardlyied to doctors engaging in self-prescriptions for non-Propofol drugs, posing greater risks during the pandemic and pointing to the urgent need for regulatory updates.
