DTI: Paracetamol supply normalized by weekend

Supply of paracetamol will normalize this week amid high demand that left a number of Metro Manila drug stores out of stock, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez on Thursday said.

Earlier this week, netizens have raised concerns on social media about their difficulties to purchase paracetamol brands and anti-flu pills as these were out of stock in drug stores.

“Yung simulang problema nung Lunes, naaksyunan na po as of Wednesday.  Kahapon nag-umpisa na at tuloy-tuloy na po ito hanggang makahabol at ma-normalize yung stock level natin. Maybe ine-expect natin now or until the weekend magfi-fill up, mano-normalize na yung supply ng paracetamol,” he said during President Rodrigo Duterte’s Talk to the People briefing.

(The problem that started on Monday, has already been acted upon as of Wednesday.  It started yesterday and will continue until we can catch up and normalize our stock level. Maybe we expect now or until the weekend to fill up, and the supply of paracetamol will normalize.)

Lopez said they immediately alerted medicine manufacturers to replenish their supply to drug stores, as demand went high due to the flu season and amid the recent rise in COVID-19 cases.

He also appealed to the public not to hoard medicines because they may just go to waste if they reach their expiration date.

“Yun po ang sinigurado natin may medisina sa mga retail stores at drug stores whether branded or generic,” he added.

(That is what we make sure that there is medicine in retail stores and drug stores whether branded or generic.)

Lopez earlier dispelled reports of shortage of medicines in the country amid the rise in COVID-19 cases. The trade secretary also assured that there are enough supplies of oxygen tanks.

The Department of Health (DOH) also consulted with the major drug store chains and local manufacturers and suppliers on the status of supply of pills for flu and assured their availability.

Meanwhile, local pharmaceutical giant Unilab Inc. earlier apologized to its customers over the temporary shortage of some of its brands in selected drugstores due to "extraordinary demand."—LDF, GMA News