The evolving technologies in cancer treatment have led to frequent updates of first-line therapy lists and standard treatment guidelines both domestically and internationally. Despite this progress, patients in South Korea experience notably longer wait times for innovative drugs. According to the Korea Research-based Pharmaceutical Industry Association (KRPIA), the average time from the approval of innovative drugs by the Food and Drug Administration to their inclusion in the national health insurance coverage reached 608 days in 2022, which is substantially longer than the wait times in Germany (281 days), Japan (301 days), and France (311 days). This discrepancy highlights systemic issues within the Korean healthcare framework that hinder timely access to new therapies for patients.

The medical community frequently criticizes the inability of the existing healthcare system to keep pace with technological advancements in drug development. Specifically, delays in health insurance coverage for anticancer drugs often render new treatments inaccessible to patients until long after their approval. Experts have united in proposing alternatives aimed at expediting the review process, incorporating feedback from patients and professionals, and creating a more flexible approach to insurance coverage for these life-saving drugs. Such changes are crucial for improving patient access to the latest treatment options.

Professor Park Yeon-hee from Samsung Medical Center, a recognized authority in breast cancer, recently discussed the structural problems with the health insurance review process during a press meeting. For instance, discussions surrounding the expansion of insurance coverage for new indications of the ADC immune drug 'Enhertu' have been stalled for nearly a year. Professor Park raised concerns that the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service's (HIRA) focus on financial assessments has created a dual barrier that hinders timely accessibility to proven effective therapies for patients. He criticized the current system, calling for HIRA to return its focus to assessing the clinical efficacy of treatments rather than preset financial constraints, which delay crucial care for patients suffering from severe illnesses.