The Ministry of Health and Welfare confirmed Thursday that 13 over-the-counter drugs will be sold outside pharmacies, including at 24-hour convenience stores, from Nov. 15.

The selected items have been classified as first-aid remedies and will not require a doctor’s prescription for purchase, allowing wider and easier access to the public.

The selected items are Tylenol 500mg, Tylenol 160mg, Tylenol 80mg for kids, liquid Tylenol for kids and Brufen syrup for children in the fever remedy and painkiller category; Pancold-A and Panpyrin T for colds; Bearse, Dr. Bearse, Festal Gold and Festal Plus in digestive medicine; and Jeil Cool Pap and Sinsin Pas RX, which are pain-relief pads.

Such products have been proven safe and are well-known to the public, which could prevent consumers’ confusion, Kim Won-jong, a ministry official, said.

The authorities will reevaluate the effect of the deregulation in May next year and will add to or reduce the items by the end of November 2013. A panel under the ministry overlooking the list advised the government to add anti-diarrhea treatments, antacids and antispasmodics in the future.

The announcement came long after President Lee Myung-bak in March last year ordered the Minister of Health and Welfare to deregulate OTC drugs in order to minimize public inconvenience in searching for remedies late at night or on holidays.

While pharmacists opposed the plan excusing possible abuse as side effect, the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law revision passed the National Assembly earlier this year with support from the civic society, doctors and the government.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)