3,000 won supplements at Daiso, while 30,000 won ones are available elsewhere... Pharmacists are upset about being bypassed

Amazing Daiso👍👍👍Health functional foods (health supplements) have been introduced into Daiso, which mainly sells low-priced products. As Daiso's market share increases, pharmacy sales are inevitably likely to decrease, leading to considerable opposition within the pharmacist community. /Photo = Money Today DB

 

Health functional foods (health supplements) have been introduced into Daiso, which mainly sells low-cost products. As Daiso increases its market share, pharmacy sales are inevitably likely to decrease, leading to considerable opposition within the pharmacist community.

 

Daiso began selling health supplements and other health functional foods at 200 stores nationwide starting from the 24th.

 

The pharmaceutical companies listed in Daiso are Daewoong Pharmaceutical, Jongkundang Health, and Ilyang Pharmaceuticals. Daewoong Pharmaceutical has stocked a total of 26 products, including comprehensive vitamin minerals, vitamin B, milk thistle, lutein, calcium, calcium-magnesium-vitamin D, omega-3, and children's comprehensive health vitamins, tailored by age, gender, and health.

 

Jongkundang Health sells two products, Lactofit Gold (17 packets) and Lutein Zeaxanthin, while Ilyang Pharmaceutical sells nine products including Vitamin C Chewable Tablets, Saw Palmetto Zinc, It & Q, Vitamin C, and Low Molecular Collagen, all at Daiso.

 

Daewoong Pharmaceutical's health functional food brand 'Doctor Bear' being sold through Daiso. / Photo provided by Daewoong Pharmaceutical

Daewoong Pharmaceutical's health functional food brand 'Doctor Bear' being sold through Daiso. /Photo provided by Daewoong Pharmaceutical

The internal reaction within the pharmacy community is not positive. While dietary supplements sold at pharmacies typically cost around 20,000 to 30,000 won for a month's supply, Daiso products are much cheaper at 3,000 to 5,000 won and have similar ingredients, raising concerns that pharmacies may be pushed out by Daiso's low-price competition.

 

In particular, herbal medicine pharmacists are unable to handle prescription drugs under current laws, making them highly dependent on health functional foods.

 

In the pharmacist community, posts such as "The pharmacist screwed over the pharmacy. It seems like everything will fail," "Ridiculous people," and "If you want to take a 5,000 won medicine, go to Daiso, and if you want to take the products recommended by the pharmacist, come to the pharmacy" have been posted.

 

Some pharmacists announced a boycott against the pharmaceutical company Daiso Entry, stating, "We have returned all the special medicines ordered from Daewoong Pharmaceutical," "We will get a refund of the deposit from Daewoong Pharmaceutical and will not place any more orders," and "We will clear out the remaining stock and not place new orders."

Reporter Jeon Hyeong-ju (jhj@mt.co.kr)

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