Direct Delivery of Medical Supplies for Rare Disease Patients via Remote Consultation Launched

Ministry of Health and Welfare and Soldak Offer One-Stop Support for Syringes, IV Sets, and More

Patients with rare diseases who have faced difficulties obtaining medical supplies due to the aftermath of the Middle East war will soon be able to reliably receive the items they need delivered directly to their homes.

Main screen of the "Soldoc Concierge" app.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on May 4 that it will officially launch a "direct delivery system for essential medical supplies" for home-based rare disease patients, in cooperation with the remote consultation platform "Soldak."

Patients with rare diseases, as defined by the Rare Disease Management Act, are those suffering from diseases affecting fewer than 20,000 people. Among these, patients who must manage their conditions at home using medical supplies such as syringes or IV sets have recently struggled with rising prices and supply shortages due to the prolonged Middle East war. In particular, caregivers for patients who require daily IV infusions, enteral nutrition, medication, or disinfection have expressed anxiety about not being able to purchase necessary items in a timely manner.

In response, the government has partnered with the private sector to establish a dedicated supply chain for rare disease patients. Unlike general shopping malls, this system is linked to medical institutions and the National Health Insurance Service, enabling verification of a patient's rare disease status.

When a rare disease patient or caregiver applies to purchase items online or via an app, eligibility is verified before the purchase is approved. For standard non-reimbursed medical supplies, the user can pay the cost and receive items via parcel delivery. For supplies that require a doctor's prescription and are covered as medical expense benefits, patients can consult with a doctor through remote consultation and then purchase the items. The company will handle the claim process with the insurance agency, so the patient only needs to pay the copayment.

The medical supplies offered by the platform include syringes, IV sets, suction tips, suction catheters, sterile saline, and sterilized cotton swabs—items needed by home-based rare disease patients. The Ministry of Health and Welfare and Soldak plan to expand the service to include patients with severe and intractable diseases, children receiving medical expense support, and, in urgent cases, are considering the delivery of pharmaceuticals as well.

Remote consultation was approved by the revised Medical Service Act in December last year, with the law set to take effect this coming December. The amended law allows remote consultations for rare disease patients and, specifically for these patients, enables remote consultations at general hospitals and above, as well as delivery of medications and consumable supplies. The Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to strengthen services for those most in need of essential medical services via remote consultation prior to the full implementation of the law.

Minister of Health and Welfare Jeong Eun-kyeong stated, "The government and society will take responsibility so that no one is marginalized or anxious simply because their disease is rare," adding, "If necessary, we will also provide financial support for the costs of medical consumables after conducting a survey on the burden of these expenses."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.