Many forced to seek alternative medicine as shortage hits

PETALING JAYA: A shortage of medicines commonly used to relieve Covid-19 symptoms is forcing people to seek alternatives.

Some have been forced to go from pharmacy to pharmacy while even doctors are complaining about running low on cough mixture, sore throat medication, paracetamol, antihistamines and asthma medication.

Fauzi Idris, a courier worker, said most jobs he has been getting recently were to buy medicine for Covid-19 patients. However, the task hasn’t been easy.

“About two weeks ago, I had to visit four pharmacies because the medication my client ordered was out of stock.

“They ended up choosing different medicines,” he said.

Fauzi said most of the orders were for anti-inflammatory throat spray, paracetamol and those that help relieve chest congestion.

“I visited six pharmacies to look for a Chinese traditional medicine which is said to help relieve chest congestion but all six were out of stock,” he said.

Student Nor Amirah Abd Rani, 26, was in disbelief when her fiance could not find a popular brand of paracetamol at a pharmacy in Terengganu, last week.

“It’s such a common medicine, how can it be out of stock?

“I called the pharmacy and was told I would not be able to find it anywhere in Malaysia.

“Even popular brands of lozenges are out of stock. So I asked them to for a different brand of the same medication,” she added.

Meanwhile, a writer who wished to be known as Kavitha, 30 said she was forced to settle for generic paracetamol when she could not a popular brand anywhere in Cheras.

“I ended up buying another brand, although it is not as effective.

“In fact, I went to a store today and it was still out of stock,” she added.