Dr. Kenny James Merin, president of the Philippine Pharmacists Association-Davao City Chapter (PPHA-Davao), said pharmacies will limit the selling of paracetamol to two pads or less as advised by the PPHA.
“Kami sa mga pharmacists diri sa Davao city, ang ginabuhat namo sa karon, naga hulat mi sa mga stocks na mag replenish, amo gina limit ang pag palit,” said Merin during a virtual presser on Monday, January 10.
(Pharmacists in the city are waiting for the stocks to be replenished. While we wait, we will limit the selling of paracetamol.)
Merin said they are doing this to avoid panic buying and ensure that people who need paracetamol still have access to the medicine.
“Amo pod gina awhag ang mga tao, ayaw mo pag panic buy kay the more mamalit mo na dili ninyo kinahanglan, looy tong uban na dili maka access ani na mga tambal,” the PPHA-Davao president said.
(We are encouraging the public to avoid panic buying or buying more than what you need because it could limit the access of those who really need it.)
Merin said they were caught off guard with the sudden demand for paracetamol that resulted in some pharmacies running out of medicine, particularly the popular paracetamol brands.
He assured that the generic counterparts of paracetamol are just as safe.
“Please remember that products like medicines are regulated by agencies like the Food and Drug Administration,” said Merin. “Aduna gyod nay level of standard na kailangan nila maabot bago sila mugawas sa market (There are standards pharmaceuticals have to meet before they are allowed to sell in the market).”
Meanwhile, Merin warned about fake medicines that can be bought online or from sari-sari stores, saying that medicines from such sources may not have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
