Baguio has no shortage of paracetamol drugs, health official says

Local drugstores  have adequate supplies of paracetamol medicines and no incident of hoarding of the medication has yet been reported in the Summer Capital according to a health official.   “There is no reason for anybody to panic.  Many companies in the country can produce these kinds of drugs so I don’t think there will be any shortage, ” City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) head Dr. Donnabel Tubera Panes said in a media forum Wednesday at City Hall.  

She said that paracetamol is an over-the-counter drug that can be purchased without any medical prescription and is usually very safe to take even by those who are pregnant.

Tubera cautioned, however, those who may have allergic reactions to the drug or are taking other medicines  that could have counter effects  to it.   

“Let me assure the public that delays could possibly happen in the delivery of the medication but there will be no shortage problem in its supply,” she stressed.  

It was reported earlier that certain paracetamol brands ran out of stock in several drugstores in some parts of the country but the Department of Health immediately assured the public that there is no prevailing shortage in paracetamol and other drugs for flu-like symptoms.   

Meanwhile, Tubera is advising the public to keep themselves warm by wearing extra layers of clothing during these “brrr” months since cold weather could trigger strokes, heart attacks and other life-threatening diseases.

She said people should also hydrate themselves; take their annual medical check-up and have their blood checked; and for those with comorbidities like diabetes and high blood pressure to religiously take their maintenance medications.

“Let us not forget that more people die of stroke and heart diseases than Covid-19,” Tubera said.  

Temperatures  in the Summer Capital have been  reaching lows of around 10 to 12 degrees  Celsius  in the past days. – Gaby B. Keith