Redesigning pricing and reimbursement models for high-cost drugs in South Korea
Associate Professor Jihyung Hong, Gachon University, South Korea
General Research Seminars
Tuesday, 15 November 2022, 10am to 11am
Hosted by The Health Economics Research Centre (HERC)
Date and time: Tuesday 15 November 2022, 10am UK GMT
To Join: This is a free event, which will be taking place both in-person and online via Zoom/Microsoft Teams. To register your interest in attending this talk please click HERE.
Abstract: Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) is a tool designed to help payers to maximise population health gain, given the payers’ budget constraints. Manufacturers are typically required to submit these data and demonstrate value for money for reimbursement approval in South Korea. However, a growing number of drugs have bypassed this hurdle in recent years as part of the CEA waiver policy introduced in 2015 to promote early patient access. Not surprisingly, some of these drugs, particularly “one-shot” therapies, have been priced abnormally high despite insufficient clinical evidence. The introduction of such drugs poses several challenges, such as affordability, clinical uncertainty and value for money. Jihyung has been involved in a series of studies to help develop a new P&R model, which can address uncertainty, value, affordability, and social values associated with high-cost drugs. She will share some of the results and insights drawn from case analyses, a Citizens Council meeting, and Focus Group Interviews with health economists, policymakers, clinicians, and civil societies/patient groups.
Bio: Dr. Jihyung Hong is an associate professor of Health Economics in the Department of Healthcare Management at Gachon University, South Korea. She is currently a member of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Coverage Assessment Committee and the Economic Subcommittee at the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA). Her research focuses on evidence-based decision-making for drug pricing and reimbursement (P&R). Her current research topics include evaluating the outcomes of risk-sharing arrangements, developing new P&R models for high-cost health technologies, and deriving and estimating evidence-based ICER threshold and social values. She is also an advocate for mental health, actively working on socioeconomic determinants of mental health.