CECC Says Shortage of Panadol Supply in Taiwan 不缺退燒藥? 指揮中心改口稱普拿疼缺貨

Previously, the CECC promised the antipyretic drugs have no issue of meeting demand but on the 19th, the CECC reported on a shortage of Panadol supply and urged people not to stock and ship them overseas. 

Over-the-counter drugs for treating various symptoms of COVID-19 have been readily available at pharmacies for some time as the number of new cases subsided in Taiwan. However, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) again reported a shortage of Panadol supply on the 19th. Pharmacies said the supply of the drug in Taiwan has been greatly depleted due to large bulk orders.

Citizen: “I would ask the doctor first what other drugs I can buy to reduce pain and fever.”

Citizen: “I couldn't buy any when the pandemic was more serious. Later on, when the pandemic eased I was able to buy some.”

The CECC said 47 out of the 77 drug brands licensed to produce acetaminophen in Taiwan are in constant production. There are currently around 54 million acetaminophen pills left in stock, which amounts to about 2.7 months in supply for patients covered under national health insurance during times prior to the pandemic. During a press conference on Monday the 19th, the CECC urged consumers to not purchase Panadol in bulk and ship it overseas. One pharmacist said the CECC overestimated the amount available for everyone.

Shen Tsai-ying, Pharmacist: “Some of the acetaminophen for sale, this little pack, for example, is not prescribed under health insurance. The so-called 2.7 months in supply is very questionable. They said according to national health insurance history, in 2019, which is prior to the pandemic. I believe you can just look in the computer database and see how much acetaminophen has been prescribed in May and June of this year.”

The pharmacist further said there are plenty of other drugs containing acetaminophen so consumers do not have to stick to just one brand. Hoarding drugs is unnecessary since they do expire. It would be wise to purchase other types of painkillers, medication for fever relief, and also cough, cold and flu medicine to keep in handy.

國內新冠疫情趨緩，藥局貨架上各式藥品都回穩，但現在近期不少藥局卻發現，居家常備藥普拿疼銷售量增加，甚至有民眾買不到的情況。

民眾表示：「會先詢問醫師，看有什麼樣的止痛效果，或是解熱效果比較好。」

有民眾則說：「剛疫情嚴重的時候都買不到，後來比較緩和的時候買得到。」

日前疫情指揮中心表示，國內含乙醯胺酚的退燒藥，共有77張有效藥品許可證，其中47張持續生產，總庫存量約5400萬顆，若以疫情前健保月平均用量估算，約可維持2.7個月，指揮中心19日證實普拿疼缺貨，呼籲國人勿搶購寄國外，有藥師就批評，是指揮中心過度美化庫存數據。

藥師沈采穎指出：「市面上在販售的這個小包裝，（乙醯胺酚成分藥）這種，其實不在健保資料庫裡面，這個（庫存維持）2.7個月，它裡面很有貓膩，它是講健保資料，而且它這個健保資料還是108年，還沒有疫情之前的一個健保資料，我相信這個電腦一撈應該有，今年的5月6月我們的健保資料庫的乙醯胺酚用量是多少。」

藥師表示，其實和普拿疼同樣含有乙醯胺酚成分藥物很多種，民眾不要有品牌迷思，藥品也會過期，備太多也沒用，但家中至少像解熱止痛、綜合感冒藥每種各備一盒，以備不時之需。