By Lee Hyo-sik
Aspirin and other over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are unlikely to be sold at supermarkets as the nation’s top health official expressed a negative view of the idea.
Currently, only pharmacists can sell OTC drugs including pain killers.
But there has been a growing voice over the past few years calling for supermarkets and other retail outlets to sell non-prescription drugs because pharmacies close relatively early and do not open on Sundays and public holidays, inconveniencing consumers.
Health and Welfare Minister Chin Soo-hee told reporters Tuesday that it is difficult to allow supermarkets to sell medicine in reality, stressing that what matters most is how to help the public cope with medical emergencies when pharmacies are closed.
“Under the current law, medicines have to be sold to consumers through pharmacies. Even if the government allowed supermarkets and convenience stores to deal with OTC drugs, the move would not work unless pharmacies agreed to it,” Chin said.
Despite intense public pressure on the ministry to permit the sale of OTC drugs by other stores, it has largely remained reluctant to grant permission, due to strong opposition from pharmacists.
In an effort to meet growing demand for easier access, the Korean Pharmaceutical Association operates 59 pharmacies nationwide at nighttime and on holidays. But consumer groups argue the number is not enough.
Pharmacists have been insisting that drug sales should be limited to pharmacies due to safety reasons. They say patients always need to be advised about what they are taking. OTC drugs sales takes up more than 10 percent of sales at pharmacies. The loss of the exclusive sales rights would deal a blow to pharmacists nationwide.
However, consumer advocacy groups have been arguing that non-prescription drugs should be sold by supermarkets and other stores to give consumers wider access. They also say that competition between pharmacies and other retail outlets will lower prices.