Negligence in gov’t oversight of narcotics, contaminated products: Audit

[Photo by Yonhap]

South Korea’s Food and Drug Safety Ministry (FDSM) has come under scrutiny as the Board of Audit and Inspection revealed its failure to properly manage and track over 1.74 million units of narcotics, including fentanyl and propofol, held by closed medical institutions. This lapse raises concerns about the potential illegal distribution of these controlled substances in significant quantities.

In a report released on Thursday, the inspection authorities highlighted that the ministry failed to adequately receive post-closure reports regarding the inventory management of narcotic pharmaceuticals from 920 clinics and hospitals that ceased operations between 2019 and 2022.

Among the neglected inventory were 4,256 units of fentanyl and remifentanil, known as “zombie drugs,” 5,108 units of the narcotic analgesic oxycodone, 7,078 units of propofol, and 1,097 units of ketamine, also known as “Special K.”

To assess the severity of the issue, the Board of Audit and Inspection conducted a sample investigation on 13 closed medical institutions. In the results, five institutions marked the drugs as “lost” or “disposed of at the institution’s discretion,” raising suspicions of potential illegal distribution. A clinic in Seoul’s Gangnam district allegedly disposed of 1,936 units of propofol without authorization or the oversight of relevant officials. Another clinic in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, reported the loss of 27,246 units of psychotropic drugs after transporting 52,000 unites to the doctor’s personal residence.

The audit report also revealed oversights in the regulatory process, as 108 instances (1,059 tons) of contaminated food, containing heavy metals or pesticide residues, were not banned for sale. Another 14 cases (7 tons) were not disclosed to the public, potentially resulting in consumers unknowingly ingesting hazardous substances.

In response, the Board of Audit and Inspection took measures to report the identified closed medical institutions found to be in violation of the law to the head of their local government officials. The board also issued warnings to the ministry to reinforce the recall process for hazardous foods and demanded disciplinary action against the officials responsible for neglecting post-evaluation procedures.