Seoul-based pharmacists and student pharmacists staged a protest outside the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) in Sejong, according to reports from September 15, 2026, demanding an immediate halt to policies that expand non-face-to-face prescription drug delivery.
The Seoul Metropolitan Pharmacists Association, led by President Kim Wi-hak, delivered an official objection document to MSS officials before holding an outdoor demonstration. According to the association, treating pharmaceutical policies as a subset of platform industry deregulation and startup promotion threatens public health by prioritizing corporate convenience over patient safety.
Opposition to Platform-Driven Healthcare Expansion
Protesters gathered at the MSS청사 to reject the commercialization of medication delivery, displaying banners that called for the protection of public safety over corporate interests. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Pharmacists Association, the impending implementation of expanded drug delivery—slated under broader non-face-to-face medical frameworks—fails to account for the complex safety checks required in medication dispensing.
Pharmacists emphasize that prescription drugs are distinct from standard consumer goods shipped via parcel services. According to local association statements, safe medication use relies on a continuous chain that includes professional prescription review, accurate dispensing, patient counseling, identity verification upon receipt, proper storage monitoring, and adverse reaction management. The association argues that commercial platforms, which act solely as intermediaries, should not dictate the operational boundaries of medical and pharmaceutical services.
Demands for Independent Safety Evaluations
The demonstration also targeted what organizers described as a lack of transparent evaluation regarding ongoing non-face-to-face medical pilot projects. According to Seoul Metropolitan Pharmacists Association leadership, pilot programs have previously surfaced issues involving the over-prescription of non-covered drugs, medication misuse, delivery errors, lost packages, and inadequate patient verification.
Association representatives argue that expanding market access before rigorously evaluating these safety metrics constitutes an unverified policy experiment rather than genuine healthcare innovation. Branch leaders, including Gwangjin District Pharmacists Association President Han Eun-kyung and Gangseo District Pharmacists Association President Lee Shin-seong, raised concerns that unrestricted platform influence could distort market order, encourage unnecessary medical consumption through promotional free shipping or coupons, and ultimately accelerate the depletion of the national health insurance fund.
Future Regulatory Timeline and Stakeholder Stance
The mobilization aligns with broader opposition across professional pharmacist groups regarding legislative and regulatory adjustments surrounding telemedicine implementation. Representatives from the Association of Pharmacy Students of Korea also participated in the Sejong protest, questioning the evidentiary basis for expanding delivery systems before safety frameworks are fully established.
The Seoul Metropolitan Pharmacists Association has formally requested that government bodies halt discussions on broadening drug delivery via commercial apps, publish objective evaluation data from existing pilot programs, block profit-driven platform interference in public healthcare systems, and reinforce regional pharmacy-led safety management structures.
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