The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has assured supply of branded paracetamol would normalize this week, shelving an earlier plan to put a cap on purchases by the public.
DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez yesterday told reporters manufacturers found no need to impose the cap as they are fast-tracking deliveries and replenishment of medicines to drug stores.
“Within the week … that’s a reasonable time to catch up with replenishment,” Lopez said in a text message.
He said the DTI will ask the manufacturers and the drug store chains the specific deliveries as this will determine the actual inventories in each store.
Lopez said Unilab, maker of Biogesic, is expediting deliveries while Watsons started distributing to its branches yesterday. Mercury Drug will start delivering today instead of this coming Saturday.
According to Lopez, Unilab did not anticipate the surge in demand.
Janet Jakosalem, vice president of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines, in a television interview said there is no shortage of branded paracetamol of member-companies.
Jakosalem said warehouses have enough supply that can be delivered to drug stores in Metro Manila on the same day the orders are made.
“We are processing orders so we ca replenish he drug stores,” she said. – Irma Isip
