FTA drug talks in Seoul
11-09-2006
FTA Drug Talks in Seoul
SEOUL (Yonhap) — Korea and the United States plan to hold talks next week on drug policy issues surrounding an envisioned bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), sources said Thursday.
Seoul and Washington have held four rounds of discussions so far on the proposed FTA, which the two sides aim to finalize by March 2007.
Drug policy-related officials from the two sides will convene in Seoul on Sunday and Monday to iron out differences on Seoul’s plan to revise its drug policy plan so new drugs will not automatically be placed on a list of “ positive drugs” that enables people to be reimbursed under related insurance policies. New drugs will require strict mandatory screening by the Health Ministry to check their cost-effectiveness.
