The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) plans to limit the volume of paracetamol and analgesics purchased by consumers in drug stores amid tight supply in some brands.
DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez told reporters this is to avoid panic-buying and hoarding.
Pharmaceutical companies have admitted to be experiencing tight supply of branded paracetamol and urged to tap alternatives such as generics.
Lopez said popular brands Biogesic and Decolgen, the paracetamol and analgesics of Unilab, may be out of stock following a delivery cutoff last December.
Lopez said deliveries started this week.
Unilab said it noted extraordinary demand of flu medicines but that brands are now replenishing stocks in drug stores.
“this is to inform the public that some of our brands are temporarily out of stock in select drugstores due to extraordinary demand. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this has caused.
We assure you that we are working with our partner drugstores and retailers to accelerate replenishment at the soonest possible time.,” Unilab said in a statement.
Jannette Jakosalem, vice president of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines said the temporary shortage of certain brands of paracetamol in some areas is due to the heightened vigilance against the Omicron variant, and a number of people getting sick due to various reasons.
Jakosalem said paracetamol is available in various dosage forms and strengths, combination products, and under several hundred brands. Alternative analgesics are also available.
“At the moment, we have enough supply of analgesics available in our inventory,” she said.
PHAP urged the public to consult their doctors and pharmacists for appropriate alternatives if they are experiencing a temporary shortage of paracetamol in their localities.
The group also called on consumers to buy only the needed number, and not overstock, because medicines have a limited shelf life or have expiration date.
This is also in consideration to consider other patients who may need them more.
Lopez in a text message to reporters said tightness in supply is due to timing of deliveries to replenish the stocks but assured there is ample supply of other brands and generics in the market.
He advised consumers to buy in reputable drug stores to ensure they are buying genuine and reasonably-priced products.
