No Cap, Shortage of Paracetamol, Flu Medicines: DTI

Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez on Wednesday said that manufacturers of medicines for flu along with paracetamol were not recommended to put a cap on their drugs as supplies for the medicines were running low on some pharmacies on Metro Manila and other provinces.

Pharmaceutical firms and other pharmacies were told to expedite the replenishment of their flu medications and paracetamol as the shortage of supply is not due to scarcity of the drugs, but rather due to the timing of deliveries.

The lack of stocks was also due to drug stores not anticipating the sudden spike in the demand for flu medications and paracetamol after the holidays, thus were not able to stock more supplies, Lopez said during an interview with DZMM.

Lopez also emphasized that there is no shortage of paracetamol and other flu medications.

Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) vice president Jannette Jakosalem added during the DZMM interview that flu medication and paracetamol stocks will be replenished in a few days. (GFB)