With increased demand for over-the-counter medicines to treat flu, cough and cold, reportedly to be couriered to China, the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Wednesday (Dec 21) advised the public to buy medicines for their own use only.

The ministry said it is closely monitoring the situation, adding that it is working with retailers and pharmacies to ensure the availability of medicines to treat fever, cough and cold for Singaporeans.

MOH was responding to media queries on the stock situation in pharmacies, following a report by CNA on the same day of long queues of Chinese nationals at courier service companies in People's Park Complex to send these drugs back to China.

The drugs include the painkiller Panadol or the traditional Chinese medicine Lianhua Qingwen. Some courier companies have also decided to impose limits on the number of customers sending medical supplies as a result, reported CNA.

China had eased nationwide Covid-19 restrictions on Dec 7, which includes scrapping frequent mass testing and imposing shorter lockdowns. Chinese nationals in Singapore who are worried about rising infection rates back at home are reportedly in a flurry to send flu medicines back to their families at home.

China's health authorities have said that the true scale of Covid-19 infections in the country is now "impossible" to track, with officials warning cases were rising rapidly in Beijing after the government abandoned its zero-Covid policy.

In its statement on Wednesday, MOH said that it is aware that retailers and retail pharmacies have seen increased demand for over-the-counter medicines to treat fever, cough and cold.

The ministry advised the public to purchase medicines, particularly paediatric medication, in quantities that are sufficient only for their own consumption in order to avoid wastage.

MOH added that retailers and retail pharmacies carry a diverse range of brands for each type of medicine including generic medicines, which it said are “just as effective as branded medicines”.

The ministry added that while the sellers have already placed additional orders, it may take them a longer time to restock some brands.

"If a preferred brand is currently unavailable, the public is advised to purchase an alternative brand,” MOM said.

According to CNA, some pharmacies like the Watsons outlets in both People's Park Complex and Chinatown Point were out of stock for Panadol, except for the menstrual as well as muscle and joint varieties.

TODAY has reached out to pharmacies, supermarkets, polyclinics and general practitioners selling these over-the-counter medicines for comment on their supply of such medicines.

In response to TODAY's queries, a spokesman for health and beauty chain Watsons said it has observed recent spikes in demand for flu, cough and Covid-related products coming from "both locals and overseas alike".

"Watsons has been monitoring closely the demand and distribution of these products to ensure a healthy supply of stock as much as we can, within the current challenge of global supply disruptions," the spokesman added.

We have set a limit of maximum six units per customer on Panadol products.”

Source:
courtesy of TODAY

by JANARTHANAN KRISHNASAMY

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