Monopoly on OTC drugs needed to ensure public safety, lawmaker says

Rep. Won Hee-mok of the ruling Grand National Party said Tuesday that even OTC drugs, mainly light cough drops, painkillers and digestion pills, need directions and monitoring from pharmacists, citing possible misuse and abuse of medicines.

There is no such thing as a ‘safe’ medicine,” Won said. “People need to be consulted all the time about what they are taking.”

Won said that the healt...