Tabuk City, Kalinga – Lately, drugstores have experienced insistent buyers of paracetamol wanting to get more than what they need, which could cause an artificial lack of the said medicine in Tabuk City.
“Nagado (buyers) iti haan makaawat sir nga paibusen (our stocks are limited) ken isunga haan mabalin maited iti maysa client lang para may mabili naman ang iba,” stated one of the chemists in his message sent to GURU Press Cordillera, adding that they are following the directives set by the national agencies.
Meantime, Kalinga Provincial Health Officer Dr. Edward Tandingan, on Thursday, January 13, called for the public to buy only what they need and be sensitive to the needs of others.
The panic buying of such medications has been reported in the entire country following a surge of flu-like illnesses and COVID-19 cases.
Earlier on January 10, 2022, Joint Memorandum Circular No. 22-01 from the Department of Health and DTI was released as guidelines for drugstore owners and other concerned offices and establishments.
Purchase limit for Paracetamol and other medicines
In said joint circular, the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) imposed a limit of sale and purchase of Paracetamol along with Carbocisteine, Phenylephrine Hydrochloride, Chlorphenamin, and Chlorphenamine Maleate Paracetamol.
For Paracetamol, an individual can only buy a maximum of 20 tablets of 500 mg or 60 tablets per household. Its liquid form is limited to five bottles per person and 10 bottles per household.
Carbocisteine, a cough medicine is limited to 20 capsules of 500 mg per person and 60 capsules per household, while its liquid form is set to a maximum of five per person and 10 per household.
Meanwhile, a consumer can only buy up to five bottles of Phenylephrine Hydrochloride, Chlorpheniramine Maleate of Paracetamol and 10 bottles per household while the tablet form is capped at 20 per person or 60 per household.
Purpose of limiting sale and purchase of medicines
According to the agencies, the limit was set to ensure availability and prevent price escalation of over-the-counter flue medicines.
Consumer and retailers and directed to comply with the directive as DTI and DOH will conduct monitoring.
“Violators of this JMC shall be liable under the pertinent and applicable provisions under the Price Act, Consumer Act of the Philippines, and/or other relevant laws, rules and regulations,” states DOH and DTI.
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