Fevered search for a fix to relieve Covid-19 symptoms

GEORGE TOWN: The surge in demand for paracetamol, an over-the-counter drug commonly taken to relieve fever and headaches, has led to a shortage in the market.

A pharmacy outlet manager who only wished to be known as Yeo, 32, said the shortage started around December last year, which was about the same time when demand for paracetamol began picking up.

“Normally, only three out of 10 customers would come in to buy paracetamol. We now have about eight out of 10 customers walking in to look for it.

“Due to the shortage of popular brands, we are now recommending customers opt for other brands,” she added.

Yeo said suppliers who were once able to fulfil the pharmacy’s orders are now struggling to meet demand.

“Normally, it would take between three and five days for supplies to arrive after we place the order.

“But now suppliers are unable to fulfil our orders and they would only give us enough for a couple of days,” she said.

Besides paracetamol, Yeo added that cough syrup and lozenges were also in high demand.

Cheng Woh Medical Hall owner Lee Xi Wen, 36, who is also facing a shortage of paracetamol, believes people are stocking up on the drug.

“Demand started picking up at the end of last year and we now get about twice the number of customers coming in looking for paracetamol.

“Initially, customers wanted those types which can be absorbed quickly to relieve pain, but once we ran out of stock, they began buying the ordinary type.

“Stocks are still coming in but only in limited quantity subject to availability,” he said.

Last month, Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) president Amrahi Buang, who confirmed the shortage of one particular brand of paracetamol said the situation arose over the past few months due to the relatively high number of purchases made during the Covid-19 pandemic, apart from possible issues in the supply chain.

The shortage is also believed to stem from increased purchases for reducing Covid-19 side effects such as fever, joint pain and headaches after receiving booster dose injections, according to some pharmacists.