Kwon Young-hee, president of the Korean Pharmaceutical Association, on the 15th addressed the recent opening of warehouse-style large pharmacies on a nationwide scale, saying, "If pharmacies become subordinated to capital and are enlarged and transformed into warehouse-style operations, it could lead to drug misuse and abuse, deterioration in community care, and the collapse of the pharmacy ecosystem."
Kwon, who appeared as a reference at the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee's audit that day, said, "During the process of opening warehouse-style pharmacies, signs of license lending involving outside capital—such as building owners or landowners who are not pharmacists—came to light, and there was a confirmed case in which the opening of the pharmacy was withdrawn," adding as above.
Kwon went on to say, "A pharmacy is an essential local health care institution," adding, "To block this issue at an early stage, it is necessary to overhaul relevant pharmacy laws and regulations, establish opening standards, and thoroughly conduct prior investigations into sources of funds, license lending, ownership relationships, and more." She added, "For prevention rather than post-hoc control after illegalities occur, a pharmacy opening review committee should be installed to conduct verification in advance."
Kwon also argued that it is outside a licensed herbal pharmacist's scope to handle pharmaceuticals, which should be the responsibility of herbal medicine and herbal preparations. Kwon said, "Turning a blind eye to the illegal sale of general medicines outside the scope of the herbal pharmacist's license and to opening pharmacies is not justice for the state. The lawless situation has passed the threshold and is on the verge of exploding," adding, "General medicine sales by herbal pharmacists are illegal. I ask you with a heart that feels like coughing up blood."
In response, Minister Jung Eun-kyeong of the Ministry of Health and Welfare said, "Regarding the issue of warehouse-style pharmacies, we will strengthen regulations on promotion and review management measures."
However, the Minister drew a line, saying that herbal pharmacists selling general medicines is not illegal. The Minister said, "Under the Pharmacists Act, a pharmacist or a herbal pharmacist can open a pharmacy, and a pharmacy operator is permitted to sell general medicines. It is not illegal for a herbal pharmacist to sell general medicines," while adding, "We will discuss measures regarding the scope of licenses and hear opinions from pharmacists."
In response, Kwon urged, "Shouldn't herbal pharmacists handle work related to herbal medicine and herbal preparations? The Pharmacists Act is clear. Please administer according to the Pharmacists Act."