Pharmacists, convenience stores clash over non-prescription drugs

The Korea Pharmaceutical Association and convenience store owners clash over which non-prescription drugs are to fill the shelves on Aug. 8. Korea Times photo by Shin Sang-soon

By Kim Hyun-bin

Pharmacists and convenience store owners are engaged in a dispute over whether to expand the list of over-the-counter drugs available at 24-hour stores.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare held its sixth designation committee meeting, Wednesday, to select high-demand medications to be labeled as non-prescription drugs that can be sold at convenience stores around the nation.

There are 13 household medications labeled as over-the-counter drugs currently available at convenience stores.

The committee also decided to remove two unpopular digestion pills from the shelves.

The committee consists of 10 members including civic group members and both the Korea pharmaceutical and medical association representatives.

The committee agreed to place antacid and anti-diarrhea medication in convenience stores, which will replace the two digestion products. However, it failed to select a specific product as the members could not come to a consensus.

They will discuss the specific product and safety issues at the next designation committee meeting.

According to health sources, Boryung Pharmaceutical's antacid Gelfos and Daewoong Pharmaceutical's anti-diarrhea medicine Semcta have a high possibility of being labeled the next over-the-counter drugs.

However, the Korea Pharmaceutical Association (KPA) has strongly opposed the Gelfos pills, claiming the drug is dangerous to infants under six months old.

The association also called for a reassessment of six of the 13 products, claiming they fail to uphold the health ministry's safety standards.

The Korea Association of Convenience Store Industry (KACSI) lambasted the association's argument, calling on them to focus more on public health instead of their own pockets.

“The pharmacists are trying to profit off public health,” the KACSI said. “Their arguments that medicines sold at pharmacies are considered safer than the same products sold in convenience stores is absurd and hard to comprehend.”

Since November 2012, the health ministry has allowed convenience stores to sell over-the-counter drugs so the public could easily purchase non-prescription drugs when pharmacies are closed late at night or on weekends. There are 13 over-the-counter drugs including Tylenol and fever, digestive and cold medications.

From the beginning, the KPA has been strongly against convenience stores selling over-the-counter drugs as it could have a negative impact on their businesses.

“The KPA is worried about the safety of Tylenol and Pancol capsules, which should be removed. The stores should be only able to sell the drugs after pharmacies and hospitals are closed,” said Kim Young-hee, advertising executive at the KPA.

However, public sentiment is not on the KPA's side.

A civic group conducted a survey of 1,700 people, and almost 90 percent were in favor of increasing the number of over-the-counter drugs at convenience stores.

“When I am sick late at night, being able to purchase an over-the-counter drug at a nearby convenience store helps a lot. I don't understand the reason or the intentions of pharmacists opposing convenience stores selling non-prescription drugs,” said a Seoul resident only identified by his surname Kim.