[Kookmin Review - Monday, Sept 5, 2011]
Do students value convenience or safety?
Students express opinions on over-the-counter drugs now being sold in stores
- 11.10.07 / 이민아
On July 21, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that
48 over-the-counter (OTC) drugs would become available outside pharmacies.
Before the implementation of this policy, people were only allowed to purchase
non-prescription medical goods such as aspirin or digestion aids at pharmacies.
But OTC medicines have long been sold in stores in other countries such as the
USA and Japan. Therefore, the Korean government reasoned that its people should
have wider access to OTC drugs, like the citizens of other countries. However,
the Korean Pharmaceutical Association (KPA) strongly opposes the ministry’s
decision and argues that the sales of OTC drugs outside pharmacies are
unnecessary and dangerous, as it could lead to drug abuse.
An advantage
to selling OTC medicines in stores is that it provides consumers greater access
to medical goods. With the new policy in effect, people will be able to access
OTC drugs not only at pharmacies, but also at supermarkets and convenience
stores. Since convenience stores are often open 24 hours a day, consumers can
buy non-prescription medical goods when pharmacies are closed.
“I once
had a painful night because convenience stores did not carry aspirin,” said Kim
Do-Sung of Chung-Ang University. “One day, I woke up in the middle of the night
to find some aspirin in my dorm. Unfortunately, I had run out of the drug.
Therefore, I had to go back to sleep since stores did not sell medicine. If
convenience stores start selling OTC drugs soon, that will be helpful throughout
the rest of my dorm life.”
A foreign student studying in Korea shared her
inconvenient experience seeking OTC drugs. “I used to buy OTC medicines at the
supermarket when I was in Japan,” the Japanese student said. “That’s why it felt
so inconvenient trying to get things like painkillers and cold medicines in
Korea for the first time. Fortunately, I heard the news, so I guess I won’t have
to search for pharmacies from now on when I need non-prescription drugs. I am
looking forward to buying OTC drugs at stores next semester.”
However,
some students worry that the sales of OTC medicines in stores could lead to drug
abuse. Supermarket clerks may not be informed about certain drugs, while
pharmacists are trained to give detailed instructions to help people buy the
appropriate medicine. Additionally, pharmacists provide customers with limited
supplies of drugs to avoid side effects. In this sense, drug abuse is more
likely to occur when OTC drugs are allowed to be sold in stores.
“I am
really concerned about overdosing on medicine,” said a Korean student studying
in the USA. “One day, one of my friends was very ill, so she bought lots of
drugs at a supermarket. A few days later, she fainted somehow. She told me that
the accident happened because she took too much medicine. That’s why I believe
selling OTC drugs in supermarkets may be dangerous.”
Another
foreign student had a different viewpoint. “I think it is unnecessary to sell
non-prescription goods in Korean stores,” an American college student from
California said. “In America, there are few pharmacies, so stores should sell
some OTC drugs. However, there are so many pharmacies in Korea compared to the
USA. That is why Korean supermarkets do not need to sell drugs. I also believe
that depending on drugs is not the best way to cure
someone.”
Guest Reporter Roh Hyun-Wook
avonmore@naver.com
[Kookmin Review - Monday, Sept 5, 2011] Do students value convenience or safety? Students express opinions on over-the-counter drugs now being sold in stores |
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2011-10-07
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