No More Reason to Delay Expanding Over-the-Counter Drugs at Convenience Stores

On July 16, the government announced that it would expand the number of over-the-counter medicines sold at convenience stores to as many as 20. In areas without pharmacies or 24-hour retail outlets, it also plans to ease the requirement that designated sellers operate 24 hours a day. In response, the Seoul Pharmaceutical Association held a resolution rally on July 25, calling for the withdrawal of both the product expansion and the relaxation of the standards for designating sellers.

The convenience store OTC medicine system was introduced in 2012. Its purpose was to allow people to buy basic medicines at night or on holidays when pharmacies are closed. At the time, 13 items were designated, but production of two has since been discontinued, leaving 11 items actually being sold today. Under the current Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, the Minister of Health and Welfare is to designate and publicly announce up to 20 OTC medicines.

Because medicines are directly tied to public health, their safety must be thoroughly examined. That does not mean, however, that there is any reason to leave the list of items virtually unchanged for nearly 14 years. If a medicine has been proven safe, it should be available nearby even at night or on holidays when pharmacies are closed.

Of course, convenience stores cannot replace pharmacies. If symptoms persist or professional consultation is needed, people should visit a medical institution or pharmacy. Medicines that require guidance on proper use should also remain under the supervision of pharmacists. But there is no need to make people wait until the next day for a pharmacy to open for something as minor as a mild headache, fever, or indigestion.

Consumer use is already far from negligible. In a 2019 survey by the Institute for Pharmaceutical Policy, 68.9% of respondents said they had purchased OTC medicines at a convenience store within the past year. The most common reason given was that pharmacies were closed on holidays or late at night. This means convenience store OTC medicines are filling gaps left by pharmacies during certain hours.

Concerns about misuse or abuse are also a weak basis for blocking an expansion in the number of items. Even now, the amount sold per transaction is limited to one package per item, and sales to children under 12 and elementary school students are prohibited. What matters is not limiting the number of items, but properly enforcing these sales standards. If problems arise, the relevant item or method of sale can be adjusted.

The medicines to be sold at convenience stores should be selected based on safety and consumer demand. Medicines that carry higher risks or require guidance on proper use should be sold through pharmacies. By contrast, items that consumers can use on their own and whose safety has been sufficiently verified can be made more accessible. The government, too, should transparently disclose the criteria for product selection and safety reviews.

The core issue in expanding convenience store OTC medicines is not reducing the role of pharmacies. It is about narrowing gaps in access to medicines that arise at night and on holidays. Consumers’ choices among proven-safe items should be broadened, while necessary oversight and regulation should be properly maintained.

The government must not delay the expansion of convenience store OTC medicines again because of opposition from pharmacists’ groups. Safety should be reviewed rigorously, and current sales standards should be faithfully enforced. On that basis, medicines whose safety has been confirmed should be made available for consumers to choose and purchase nearby whenever they need them. There is no reason to delay expanding convenience store OTC medicines any longer.

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Original title: 편의점 상비약 확대, 더 미룰 이유 없다

Author: Ho-gyeong Lee

Date: 2026-08-27

Source: https://www.cfe.org/bbs/bbsDetail.php?cid=press&pn=1&idx=29451