Some Areas See Shortage Of Paracetamol Brands

The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) confirmed on Tuesday, Jan. 4, that there is a “temporary shortage” of certain brands of paracetamol in some areas of the country.

In a statement, PHAP vice president Janette Jakosalem said the temporary shortage in supply was caused by increased demand from consumers.

“With the heightened vigilance against the Omicron variant and a number of people getting sick due to various reasons, we are experiencing a temporary shortage of certain brands of paracetamol in some areas,” Jakosalem added.

Paracetamol is available in various dosage forms and strengths, combination products and under several hundred brands, according to the PHAP official.

She underscored that there are “alternative analgesics” that are also available in the market.

“At the moment, we have enough supply of analgesics available in our inventory,” Jakosalem, also the managing director of Zuellig Pharma, said.

She urged the public to consult their doctors and pharmacists for appropriate alternatives “if they are experiencing a temporary shortage of paracetamol in their localities.”

“We also call on them to buy only the needed number and not overstock, because medicines have a limited shelf life or expiration date, and to consider other patients who may need them more,” she added.

Since the pandemic began, the PHAP said its members have been working to make COVID and non-COVID medicines available to Filipinos.

“We are also closely coordinating with the government on pharmaceutical security and provided recommendations to ensure the uninterrupted supply of medicines in the country,” it said.

The PHAP made the confirmation as Health Undersecretary and treatment czar Leopoldo Vega told “The Chiefs” on One News / TV5 that panic buying for paracetamol is due to the people’s anxiety brought about by the current influenza season, coupled with the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

“I think the community is this anxious of what’s going to happen. In that kind of behavior, they tend to make sure that they have the necessary kits and medicines around them to safeguard the family,” Vega said on Monday night, Jan. 3.

In a statement, the Department of Health (DOH) said it had “quickly consulted major drugstore chains and local manufacturers and suppliers on the status of supply” of paracetamol.

“The DOH would like to assure the public that while there is an observed increased demand for such products, there is no ongoing shortage in the Philippines,” the statement read.

The agency said it is constantly monitoring the status of supply of critical medicines for COVID-19, including supportive medicines for symptomatic treatment.

“We would like to appeal to consumers, however, to refrain from hoarding, panic-buying or unnecessary purchases of such medications when not clinically warranted,” the DOH said.

‘Temporarily out of stock’

In an advisory on Tuesday, Pharmaceutical giant Unilab, manufacturer of paracetamol brand Biogesic, said some of its brands are “temporarily out of stock” in select drugstores due to “extraordinary demand.”

“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this has caused,” the company added.

Unilab, however, assured the public that it is “working with our partner drugstores and retailers to accelerate replenishment at the soonest possible time.”

Unilab’s other products include Bioflu for headache, fever and flu, and Decolgen and Neozep for colds.

Limit on quantity

Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will ask drugstores to impose a limit on the quantity of paracetamol that can be purchased, as some brands are now on tight supply.

In a Viber message to reporters on Tuesday, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the agency would “ask drugstores to limit purchase quantity just to prevent panic buying.”

Lopez added that the purchase limit is being reviewed.

The DTI chief attributed the tight supply for some paracetamol brands to the timing of deliveries to replenish the stocks in branches of drugstores.

“In particular, popular brands Biogesic or Decolgen may be having temporary out of stock situations,” he said.

Drug manufacturers had a delivery cut-off last December, but new deliveries have started coming this week, according to Lopez.

“But some brands and generics have ample supply,” he said.

He cited Rhea Generics products, which are not affected as much as their lines are supplied by major companies.

“There are other brands of paracetamol in the market so there is no shortage,” he said. – With Louella Desiderio