The intrinsic purpose of the support project is to prevent infection and recommend inspection for symptoms.
The goal is to complete the establishment of a pharmacy in the first half of the year
[팜뉴스=김응민 기자] On the 3rd, the Korean Pharmacy Society explained the specific progress of the government’s pharmacy contactless thermometer support project through a briefing with the access reporters, and introduced the meaning and expected effects of the support project.
On February 28, the government encouraged all pharmacies across the country that took the lead in quarantine activities, such as the distribution of public masks and initial response to suspected corona19 infections, at the’High-level Party Government Council’ to organize the 4th disaster subsidy supplementary budget. And announced a plan to support non-contact thermometers to promote quarantine.
This project is supported by about 23,000 pharmacies nationwide, with a total budget of 8.2 billion won. Currently, only the procedure for resolution (budget approval) by the National Assembly is left after the resolution by the State Council.
Depending on the budget final approved by the National Assembly and the purchase price of non-contact thermometers, the pharmacy may incur a certain portion (around 10% of the device purchase price) of self-pay.
Lee Kwang-min, Public Relations Director of the Korean Pharmacy Society, said, “The Korean Pharmacy Society has continuously suggested to the government the need for additional quarantine supplies for pharmacies to prevent COVID-19 infection of workers in pharmacies, which are essential facilities.” It led to the achievement of a pharmacy support business.”
He added, “We plan to conduct’open competitive bidding’ to select the place to purchase the thermometer, and when forming the evaluation judges, we will evaluate and select as fairly as possible, including the number of branch recommendation personnel and pharmacist society audit personnel.
According to the pharmacy society, purchasing devices are planned to be based on products licensed as’medical devices’ by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. It is a policy to be selected.
In addition, when the budget for the support project is determined, the company is aiming to complete the establishment of a pharmacy within the first half of the year by immediately proceeding with product purchase selection and promotion for application for device support.
Public Relations Director Lee Kwang-min said, “The ownership of the device is in the pharmacy, and its purpose is only to measure and use body temperature for visitors at the pharmacy.” “There will be a limit, and private and commercial use will be limited.”
He added, “However, the non-contact thermometer support project for pharmacies and the imposition of the duty to manage visitor records in accordance with the administrative order of the local government are mutually irrelevant.
On the other hand, the Korean Pharmacopoeia has regretted the support project, but expressed its position as meaningful support from a mid- to long-term perspective.
Public Relations Director Lee Kwang-min said, “It is clearly regrettable that the public mask tax exemption bill has been broken,” he said.
“In the situation of Corona 19, the pharmacy provided public masks and contributed greatly to blocking infectious diseases. This support means that the responsibility and contribution to the social role of the pharmacist’s job is recognized.”
“The essential purpose of this support project is to prevent COVID-19 infection for pharmacy workers and to recommend screening clinics for symptomatic patients visiting pharmacies.” It is expected that it will also contribute to minimizing community infections by recommending the Corona 19 diagnostic test.”
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