From pharmacy practice to new drug review

Pharmacists with 1–2 years of practical experience in the New Drug Listing Division after hospitals and pharmacy experience

“Clinical experience helps with drug reviews…sense of achievement is unique”

“Reimbursement review is not easy, but the public role is appealing”

Even after a new drug is developed and released to the market, there is one hurdle that must be cleared for patients to fully benefit from it: the National Health Insurance reimbursement listing.

How this initial step is handled, in reviewing whether a drug should be covered by health insurance, determines both patients’ access to treatment and the balance of Korea’s insurance budget.

The organization guarding that crucial gate is the Department of Drug Management of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA). It is also one of the operational departments where pharmacists can create synergy based on their understanding of pharmaceuticals.

Assistant Directors Jae-young Choi (left) and Jin-woo Song of the New Drug Listing Division, Department of Drug Management

DailyPharm met with Jin-woo Song (38) and Jae-young Choi (34), assistant directors working in the Department of Drug Management, by drawing on their clinical experience in hospitals and pharmacies. We were able to hear their candid thoughts on what their new roles entail after hanging up their pharmacist’s coats, as well as the challenges and satisfactions they face.

Both have been with the agency for 1-2 years. What has your career as pharmacists been like?

Jin-woo Song (hereinafter Song): After graduating from pharmacy school in 2023, I worked at the Pharmacy Department of Severance Hospital for 2 years. I gained experience in the Inpatient Dispensing Unit, Special Dispensing Unit, Pharmacy Information Unit, and Outpatient Dispensing Unit before joining HIRA last June.

Jae-young Choi (hereinafter Choi): I also have experience working as a night-shift pharmacist at a hospital and in a community pharmacy after graduation. I joined HIRA in December 2024, so it’s been just over a year now.

Among various career options, why did you choose to join HIRA?

Song: While working at the hospital, I realized that I am well-suited to a well-established system-based institution. I became curious about how reimbursement criteria and procedures for pharmaceuticals are set and decided to move to HIRA.

Assistant Director Jin-woo Song

Choi: After graduation, I became increasingly interested in social pharmacy. I applied because I became interested in new drug listing and management of already listed drugs to improve patient access to treatments. I found the idea of approaching pharmaceuticals from the public sector appealing.

Did you prepare anything specifically in order to join HIRA?

Song: Since they make the hiring process very convenient for pharmacists, there was nothing specific I needed to prepare. If you have at least 1 year of experience at a university, research institute, pharmaceutical company, hospital, or pharmacy, you only need to submit a cover letter. The written test is waived. As long as you meet the requirements, you can take the interview, and even upon joining, you are hired at Grade 4 (assistant director).

What kind of work are you doing in the Department of Drug Management?

Song: I have been working in the New Drug Listing Division since June last year. My work involves the overall process related to reimbursement listing for new drugs. I handle cost-effectiveness reviews related to expanded criteria for risk-sharing agreement drugs as well as assessments of the appropriateness of renewing RSAs for such drugs.

Choi: I’m part of the Agenda Team within the New Drug Listing Division. I joined in December 2024, so it’s been just over a year. When I’m assigned cases involving new drugs or RSA drugs, such as applications for reimbursement decisions, requests to expand reimbursement criteria, or evaluations related to contract expiration, I review them based on criteria like clinical utility and cost-effectiveness. I then present those results to the Drug Reimbursement Evaluation Committee.

How has your experience in hospitals and pharmacies been helpful?

Song: I handled many anticancer drugs and medications for severe diseases at a tertiary hospital. Many of the drugs I encountered back then are now being submitted for reimbursement listing. The drug information, reimbursement criteria, and guidelines I referred to while handling information management tasks have been very helpful.

Choi: I worked at a pharmacy until just before joining the agency, so there wasn’t much direct overlap with my current duties. However, having studied pharmacy for many years, my background knowledge helps when exploring new areas.

Assistant Director Jae-young Choi

Has your perception of HIRA changed since joining?

Song: At first, I worried that the rigid organizational culture might be difficult to adapt to. But after experiencing it firsthand, I found that there is a very horizontal and mutually respectful organizational culture.

Choi: It wasn’t until I was about to graduate from pharmacy school that I learned there were pharmacists working at HIRA and that they handled drug management tasks. After joining, I realized that the drug-related work HIRA handles is more diverse than I had imagined.

What is the most challenging aspect of your work?

Song: Newly launched drugs are expensive, so using them as treatments without reimbursement places a heavy financial burden on patients. We receive many requests for reimbursement, but the challenge is that we cannot simply grant the requests of those who are just waiting for reimbursement.

Choi: The fact that I have to continuously study new diseases is both the best part and the most challenging aspect of the job.

When do you feel a sense of accomplishment?

Song: As part of the New Drug Listing Division’s duties, we review the appropriateness of reimbursement at the DREC. I feel a sense of accomplishment when the reimbursement appropriateness of an item I reviewed is approved.

Choi: It’s the moment a new drug I’ve reviewed gets actually listed. I still lack experience and have a lot to learn. Going forward, I want to think more deeply about the social impact as I do my work.

Do you have any advice for pharmacy students or pharmacists interested in joining HIRA?

Song: While you may be fulfilling various roles in hospitals or pharmacies, there are tasks that can only be performed at HIRA. You’ll likely find a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment here that’s distinct from what you’d experience elsewhere.

Choi: Given the nature of our work, I feel we’re doing things that are hard to experience elsewhere. If you’re interested in the public sector beyond clinical practice, I encourage you to apply during our recruitment period.