의약품 거래규제에 관한 일고찰：온라인약국 허용여부에 관한 정책적 논의를 중심으로

In Korea, consumer goods and services of various fields are sold online, but online transaction of medical and pharmaceutical products is impossible since establishment of online pharmacies is illegal at the moment. In advanced countries such as the United States and England, however, online transaction of medical and pharmaceutical products has already been permitted, and the demand of Korean consumers for online pharmacies is continuing to increase. Also, there are practical difficulties in restricting online purchases of medical products by Korean consumers. Therefore, under the premise that a specific and practical analysis of allowing online transaction of pharmaceutical products is necessary, this study analyzes the present situations of online transaction system of medical products of Korea and other major advanced nations. Moreover, based on the examination of main issues related to whether permit the online pharmacies or not, and assuming gradual permission of B2C transaction, the study proposes several policy suggestions as follows. First, it is necessary to revise and/or make up the present legislations including the article 50 of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law and to oblige online pharmacy permissions. Second, it is required to prepare so-called ‘Guidelines for Transaction of Online Pharmaceutical Products' or Online Pharmacy Establishment Standards' in order to regulate illegal online transaction of medical and pharmaceutical products. Third, it's necessary to allow of mail delivery and or door-to-door delivery service of online-ordered pharmaceutical products and Finally, the Korean Government have to ready to cope with the every causable problems when the online transaction of pharmaceutical products is permitted in a near future.