DTI: No paracetamol price hike despite COVID-19 case surge, pharma firms say

Despite a high demand that left a number of drugstores in Metro Manila and other areas out of stock, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Saturday said the price of paracetamol will not increase.

“Aside from the commitment as to supply ng manufacturers and retailers natin, meron din silang commitment na hindi magtataas ang presyo nito dahil sa temporary stock-outs na na-experience natin recently… Hindi siya sapat na dahilan para itaas ang presyo,” Trade Undersecretary for Consumer Protection Ruth Castelo said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(Aside from their commitment as to supply of manufacturers and retailers, they also have a commitment that they will not hike prices due to temporary stock-outs we experienced recently… It’s not enough reason to raise prices.)

The DTI official also reiterated that the supply of paracetamol will normalize this weekend as committed by drug manufacturers and retailers. 

“Itong weekend na ito normal na ‘yung supply natin so wala nang dapat ipag-alala ang consumers,” Castelo said.

(Consumers should not worry as supply will normalize this weekend.)

Earlier this week, netizens have raised concerns on social media about their difficulties to purchase paracetamol brands and anti-flu pills as these were out of stock in drugstores.

The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) on Tuesday said that a temporary shortage of certain paracetamol brands was being experienced in some areas. 

“With the heightened vigilance against the Omicron variant, and a number of people getting sick due to various reasons, we are experiencing a temporary shortage of certain brands of paracetamol in some areas,” PHAP said in a statement.

Local pharmaceutical giant Unilab Inc. apologized to its customers over the temporary shortage of some medicine brands in selected drugstores due to "extraordinary [high] demand." —KG, GMA News