In response to concerns regarding a shortage of cold medicines in Korea due to the COVID-19 epidemic in China, the Korean Pharmaceutical Association is starting a campaign in Seoul to encourage people to purchase only the amount of cold medicines they need.
On the morning of the 31st, pharmacists and government officials, including Chairman Choi Kwang-hoon of the Korea Pharmaceutical Association and Deputy Director of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Kwon Oh-sang, visited pharmacies in Jung-gu and Jongno-gu, starting with a pharmacy on Namdaemun-ro, Jung-gu, explaining the purpose of the campaign and attaching notices.
The notice contains content that encourages pharmacy visitors to purchase respiratory-related medicines such as cold medicine for only 3 to 5 days and not to purchase more than necessary.
The government decided to limit the number of cold medicines sold at pharmacies in preparation for a shortage of cold medicines in Korea due to the Corona 19 epidemic in China the previous day, and decided to set the implementation time, target, and limited quantity of sales during next week.
The pharmacist association emphasized that this campaign was scheduled before the government’s decision, and that it was a voluntary action by the pharmacist association to stabilize the supply and demand of cold medicines.
Chairman Choi said, “There were concerns that the mass sales of cold medicines, known through some reports, might stimulate demand.” “We started the campaign,” he said.
The pharmaceutical association plans to launch a nationwide campaign in earnest from the 2nd of the month following the year-end and New Year holidays.
Choi Soo-jin, Hankyung.com reporter naive@hankyung.com
