There are many opinions of concern that the two items of X-ray contrast medium registered as essential medicines may fall into a situation where supply is not possible. According to the industry, price cuts are scheduled for Lipiodol and Fattiodol on the 1st of next month, and the price of raw materials for these products is high. The original product, Guerbet Fattiodol Ultra, obtained domestic approval in 1998 and was recognized for its insurance price of 52,560 won in 2016. Afterward, the pharmaceutical company filed an application for drug price adjustment with the health authorities in 2018, citing lower margins compared to cost, and was found to have led to a drug price increase of 190,000 won, a 261% increase from the previous one. Lipiodol is 189,224 won in January 2022, 133,000 won in September 2022, 189,224 won in September 2022, and 133,000 won in January 2023. The drug price is scheduled to be reduced to 1,745 won.

The situation is equally bad for Dongkuk Fattiodol, the only generic drug in the market approved in 2020. At the time of registration, the additional drug price was recognized and 59.5% (113,050 won) of 190,000 won was recognized, but the drug price is scheduled to be reduced to 101,745 won on the 1st of next month. Application for drug price adjustment is virtually the only way to raise or preserve drug prices, but it cannot be used because there are alternative drugs between Lipiodol and Fattiodol. If two pharmaceutical companies simultaneously stop supplying drugs due to lower margins following drug price cuts, a supply-demand crisis is expected.

An industry insider said, "Estimating the cost of essential medicines and resolving the dynamics of drug price cuts is a mid-to-long-term task that the health authorities must solve." The main component of Lipiodol is Ethyl Esters Of The Iodised Fatty Acids Of Poppyseed Oil, which is used for lymphography, salivary gland imaging, carotid artery chemoembolization for liver cancer, and hysterosalpingography.

Last year, Lipiodol and Fattiodol last year's performance were about 2.8 billion won and 36 million won, respectively.