Avoid panic buying amid alleged shortage of meds like paracetamol, public told

MANILA, Philippines — Amid a reported shortage of certain medicines like paracetamol, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has urged the public to avoid panic buying.

“Dahil po nga nagkakaroon ng parang artificial shortage sa mga gamot, hinihikayat po sana natin ‘yung mga mamamayan natin na huwag mag-panic buying,” DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said during President Rodrigo Duterte’s taped Talk to the People aired Thursday

(Because we are having an artificial shortage of medicines, we are encouraging our citizens to avoid panic buying.)

The DILG official assured the people that there is an adequate supply of medicines to treat the symptoms of COVID-19.

“May enough medicine po para to treat ‘yung symptoms pero ‘yung iba kasi ay nag-i-stock na sa bahay kaya po nagkakaroon ng panic at ang pagtingin po ay parang nagkakaroon ng shortage,” he said.

(We have enough medicine to treat the symptoms but others are stocking supplies at home so there is panic and perceived as having a shortage.)

Earlier, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Health guaranteed the public that there is no deficiency in the supply of paracetamol despite a surge in demand.

READ: DOH on paracetamol ‘shortage’: Don’t panic, alternatives equally effective

Paracetamol is a drug taken to treat mild to moderate pain caused by headaches or colds, among others, and to lower fever.

Fever is among other noted symptoms in people stricken with flu and COVID-19.

KGA