The Ministry of Health and Welfare has put the brakes on the controversy over stockpiling of cold medicine in Korea as medicines are in short supply due to the rapid increase in corona19 confirmed cases in China.
It is the position that selling excessive amounts of cold medicine to individual patients can be punished as a violation of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act.
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, a Chinese recently brought a suitcase and bought 6 million won worth of antipyretic and cold medicine at a pharmacy in Mangwol-dong, Hanam-si, Gyeonggi-do. Chinese stockpiling of cold medicines is often seen in Myeong-dong and Gangnam in Seoul, where tourists often visit.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 28th, “Acts in which pharmacies sell an excessive amount of cold medicine that cannot be considered for treatment to individual patients can be punished under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act and can adversely affect the misuse and abuse of cold medicine and the supply and demand situation.”
The Enforcement Rule of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act stipulates that ‘establishers of pharmacies, etc. cannot wholesale medicines’, and in case of violation, imprisonment for up to 1 year or a fine of up to 10 million won, suspension of business for 3 days for the 1st violation, 7 days for the 2nd violation, 3rd violation is subject to 1 month.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare said, “We have requested the relevant public health center to review the current situation and review the measures under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act.”
The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that it would continue to monitor sales of excessive amounts of cold medicine to individual patients and take necessary measures in case of specific violations.
In addition, it is already strengthening cooperation with related organizations by asking the Korean Pharmaceutical Association and the Korea Convenience Store Industry Association to actively inform their members and related companies.
