Pangasinan, Pampanga drug stores also run out of paracetamol

Customers in Pangasinan and Pampanga were disappointed to find out that drug stores have run out of paracetamol brands.

According to the GMA Regional TV report, residents in Dagupan, Pangasinan were hoping to buy medicine in case they get the flu.

Drug store owners revealed that medicine is in high demand because it is flu season.

For its part, the Department of Health  reminded the public to avoid hoarding medicines amid the high demand.

"Paalala lamang sa ating mga kababayan, kung kayo ay bibili ng mga ganitong gamot, ang bilhin lamang ay 'yung ayon sa pangangailangan and we discourage talaga 'yung pagho-hoarding o pagpa-panic buying," said Dr. Rhuebel Bobis, DOH Center for Health Development-Ilocos.

(May I remind the public, that if they buy medicine, please buy only what we need and we discourage hoarding or panic buying.)

In Pampanga, drug stores limit selling one set of biogesic per person.

But authorities there said there is still enough stock of medicine in hospitals.

The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) had already warned the public that there is an expected temporary shortage of paracetamol brands in several areas.—Consuelo Marquez/LDF, GMA News