Health ministry moves to tighten oversight of drug sales agents

The health ministry said Thursday it will strengthen supervision of pharmaceutical sales agents to ensure greater transparency and accountability in the industry.

Held at the Korea Press Center on Sept. 17, the second Pharmaceutical Industry Innovation Public-Private Consultative Body brought together government officials, industry representatives and experts to address the rapid expansion of contract sales organizations (CSOs) and the operational issues arising from their growth.

Officials noted that the number of such agents reached approximately 15,000 in 2024, with single-person businesses accounting for 70 percent of the market. The ministry raised concerns regarding high commission rates tied to performance metrics and multi-tiered subcontracting structures.

"As the contract sales organization market expands rapidly and business types diversify, it is important to secure both transparency and responsibility in pharmaceutical sales," said Jeong Gyeong-sil, director of the healthcare medical policy bureau. "Based on the diverse opinions from the field and expert suggestions gathered during this consultation, we plan to formulate measures to strengthen the management and supervision of CSOs."

The discussions from the meeting will be used to redefine the role of drug sales agents.