The South Korean government has banned the production and sale of some heartburn medicines.
The move comes as there are concerns these products could contain carcinogens.
Choi Si-young explains further.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said Thursday that it's found high levels of cancer-causing compounds in stomach medicines sold under the trade name Zantac, among others.
Its generic name is ranitidine, and it's used to reduce stomach acid production and treat peptic ulcer disease.
The ministry has banned production and sale of 269 of the drugs.
The ban affects about 1-point-4-5 million patients, who the ministry says can ask their doctor for a substitute that'll be free of charge the first time.
They can also refund or exchange medicine they've already purchased.
More information is available online.
Some health experts are saying the ministry was too slow to ban the drugs, having dismissed the cancer concerns raised by the health authorities in the U.S. and Europe earlier this month,... only to reverse its decision.
The health ministry plans to launch a committee to study the long-term side effects of ranitidine on the human body.
Choi Si-young, Arirang News.
