Japanese umbilical paste for kids. (File photo)
(ECNS) -- Following the fever for Japanese toilet lids, highly hyped Japanese medicine has become a new attraction for Chinese tourists, Beijing Times has reported.
However, according to a medical expert, their pharmacology is no different from domestic products.
Dubbed "godly medicine" by Chinese tourists, several Japanese medical brands are experiencing a significant boost in sales. One of the companies has sold five times as much in the second quarter of 2015 compared to the same period last year. In addition to those from Japan, overseas medicines from Australia, New Zealand and Germany are also highly touted among Chinese consumers.
Most of the "godly medicines" are nonprescription drugs, including children's medicine, healthcare medicine, and over-the-counter drugs that are rare in China, according to chief pharmacist Zhang Zheng at a hospital in Beijing's Chaoyang district. Notable ones are liquid plasters, infantile umbilical pastes, and eyewashes.
Zhang also admitted that compared to Chinese medicine manufacturers, foreign counterparts follow higher standards and have more sophisticated procedures. In addition, foreign drug companies often produce medicines targeting specific populations like children and senior citizens, thus rendering their collection more complete. On the other hand, Chinese passion for foreign drugs is partially driven by distrust in domestic equivalents.
There is no need to blindly pursue foreign medicine though, said Zhang. Whether Chinese or foreign, medicines share the same pharmacology and do not require cutting-edge technology. Given that some domestic medical brands are indeed reliable in terms of quality, consumers do not have to buy from abroad.
