From Rx drugs to OTC drugs, front-line pharmacies have recently had much time since the outbreak of COVID-19. Some say that pharmacy sales are also the biggest boom since the division of labor. Obviously, sales of generic drugs for certain diseases in most pharmacies have increased.

However, pharmacists point out that there are concerns about the current situation as sales increase due to increased OTC sales.

From Rx to OTC

Pharmacists are most concerned about the increased demand for OTC centered on consumers' specific brand name. Due to the incident that began with Director Jeong Eun-Kyeong's remarks, patients visited various pharmacies, so there was no stock of Tylenol. Nine months have passed since the outbreak in June last year, inventory of Tylenol has not been available at front-line pharmacies. Cold drugs Coldaewon, Theraflu, Cough syrup, Eunkyosan Ext., Pueraria Root have driven consumer demand. Due to the influence of SNS or online, demand has increased because a list of essential OTC drugs for COVID-19 home treatment has been shared on SNS or online.

An official from a pharmacy chain said, "These days, consumers tend to stick to certain products or ingredients regardless of their diseases because they have such a strong belief in information they have encountered through the Internet or SNS."

The official said, "In a series of situations, starting with the Tylenol crisis, followed by Coldaewon, Theraflu, Cough syrup, Eunkyosan Ext., and Pueraria Root, patients' unilateral nominations are prioritized over pharmacists' consultation and choice. I can recommend drugs depending on the patient's personal disease or condition through consultation with a pharmacist, but such an opportunity has disappeared."

Accelerated cold-drug out of stock
Butterfly effect brought about by demand for product name

Some analysts say that the rapid influx of demand for certain generic drugs in the early stages of home treatment is the beginning of the current massive shortage of generic drugs related to colds. The demand for certain cold medicines has driven pharmacists to become anxious to secure inventory. They say that certain products are not easily purchased at pharmacies, stimulating consumer anxiety, leading to excessive demand for cold medicine. Pharmacists said that if the pharmacist had been able to choose and recommend products to suit the patient's symptoms or needs at a time when demand for cold medicine soared, the cold medicine shortage could have been less situation or delayed.

A pharmacist in Seoul said, "Currently, there is generally no stock of products to sell when patients visit cold medicines, effects, or oriental medicine. Of course, demand has soared and this is the root cause of the cold medicine shortage crisis. However, it is true that it accelerated the shortage because it preferred certain products and certain ingredients."

Pharmacist Lee said, "If the pharmacist had been able to combine or distribute drugs based on ingredients according to the patient's personal situation or disease, the current situation could have been further delayed." Pharmacist Lee added, "As demand is focused on Rx drugs and this leads to sold out, it has caused excessive demand due to anxiety."