Gov’t sets cap on purchase of paracetamol

MANILA, Philippines — The government is setting a limit on how much paracetamol each individual and household can buy, among other medicines for fever and flu-like symptoms, nearly a week after some stores in Metro Manila ran out of stock of certain brands.

The Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Health issued a joint memorandum circular dated Jan. 10 setting purchase limits on over-the-counter flu medicines.

Thus, an individual can only buy up to 20 500-milligram tablets of Paracetamol, while a household can buy up to 60 tablets of the same dosage.

This is meant “to strictly ensure the availability of flu medicines until such time that their supplies become stable,” read the circular.