Prescription drugㆍHospital medication dropped
Last year, the consumer price index (CPI) of painkillers in South Korea jumped more than 5%.
Statistics Korea says pharmaceuticals CPI in December 2021 was 100.24 (2020=100), up 0.29% from 99.95 in December 2020.
The CPI of painkillers rose 5.03% from 103.57 to 108.78, the largest increase among the other pharmaceutical products.
Followed by painkillers, vitamin products gained 2.52% from 99.96 to 102.49, anti-inflammatory drugs 1.98% from 100.29 to 102.28, and oriental medicine 1.95% from 100.33 to 102.29.
During the same period, gastrointestinal medicine rose 1.38%, antitussive 1.28%, oral disinfectant 0.98%, skin disease medication 0.53%, and cold medicine 0.15%.
On the other hand, prescription drugs, which fell below 100 in December 2020 along with vitamin products, fell 0.84%, and hospital medication dropped 0.85%, further away from the 100 mark.
Meanwhile, as of December 2021, the CPI of painkillers was the highest at 108.78, 102.73 for antitussive, 102.48 for vitamin product, 102.29 for oriental medicine, 102.28 for anti-inflammatory drugs, and 102.05 for gastrointestinal medicine.
The oral disinfectant was 101.44, digestant 101.43, skin disease medication 100.82, and cold medicine 100.25, exceeding the 100 mark. The prescription drug was 98.73, and the hospital medication recorded 98.73, below 100.
