Ministry of Health and Welfare discusses first expansion in 14 years, from 11 to 20 items; antidiarrheals and antacids among candidates; pharmacists warn of misuse risks

Over-the-counter medicines on sale at a convenience store. [Yonhap]
Over-the-counter medicines on sale at a convenience store. [Yonhap]

The government is moving to expand the list of over-the-counter medicines available at convenience stores, a category that has been capped at 13 items or fewer for years. Antidiarrheals and antacids are among the products under consideration, though the Korea Pharmaceutical Association has said it opposes the expansion over concerns about misuse.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare said it plans to begin formal discussions in the second half of this year on raising the number of approved convenience store medicines from the current 11 to as many as 20, and on widening the range of outlets allowed to sell them — particularly in areas without nearby pharmacies. The outcome remains uncertain, however, as pharmacy groups that previously opposed similar moves are again holding firm against the proposal.

The convenience store medicine system was introduced in November 2012 to address the difficulty of purchasing medicines when pharmacies are closed on public holidays or late at night. Under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, the minister of health and welfare may designate up to 20 items for convenience store sale, taking into account factors such as ingredients, side effects, dosage, formulation, public familiarity and ease of use.

A total of 13 medicines are currently approved for convenience store sale: five fever-reducing painkillers including Tylenol 500mg tablets; four digestive aids including Bearse tablets and Festal Gold tablets; two cold medicines including Pankol-A oral liquid and Panpirin-T tablets; and two topical pain patches including Jeil Cool Pap and Shinsin Pas Arex.

However, two of those — Tylenol 160mg tablets and Children's Tylenol 80mg tablets — have been discontinued, meaning only 11 items are in practice available for purchase.

According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, total supply of convenience store medicines in 2024 reached 55.5 billion won (about $36.4 million). Tylenol 500mg tablets accounted for the largest share at 21.8 billion won, followed by Pankol-A oral liquid at 16.2 billion won.

The debate over expanding the convenience store medicine list is not new. The Designated Review Committee for Essential Non-Prescription Medicines discussed adding antidiarrheals — used to relieve diarrhea symptoms — and antacids — which reduce stomach acid — to the approved list from 2017 through the following year.

Those talks ultimately stalled after the Korea Pharmaceutical Association mounted strong opposition, including holding a mass rally, and no conclusion was reached.

The government's renewed push appears driven by two factors: two of the 13 approved items have already been discontinued, and the system has proven its value. A 2019 survey of 1,000 adults conducted by the Korea Institute of Drug Safety and Risk Management found that 68.9 percent of respondents had purchased a convenience store medicine at least once in the previous year.

Pharmaceutical companies are generally not opposed to improving the convenience store medicine system, as it would open an additional sales channel, but most have refrained from speaking out publicly out of consideration for their relationships with pharmacists.

The Korea Pharmaceutical Association and the broader pharmacy community continue to oppose any expansion of the convenience store medicine list. An association official said in a phone interview Sunday that the opposition was not about protecting pharmacists' livelihoods, and that convenience store medicines account for a very small share of total over-the-counter drug sales. "Every medicine has side effects, and all medicines must meet standards for both safety and efficacy," the official said. "The discussion around expanding convenience store medicines is being driven by convenience rather than safety."


ikson@heraldcorp.com