'Drug Stocks Running Low But Alternatives Available'

Hong Kong pharmacies are running low on paracetamol and some other medicines, but alternative products are still available, an industry representative said on Tuesday.

Following a rise in Covid infections and news that the border will soon fully reopen, some over-the-counter drugs have become harder to find.

The vice-chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Pharmacy, Cheung Tak-wing, told RTHK that paracetamol supplies are limited, with a few brands out of stock.

Cheung said it's a similar situation with some other products.

"The supply of medicines for colds and coughs has become tight. The Christmas holidays may have affected the delivery of goods," he said.

"Normally drugs are restocked three times a week, but now the frequency has decreased to once or twice per week. So there are not many drugs in stock."

Cheung said he hoped supplies would return to normal after the holiday period, but in the meantime, pharmacies still have substitute products available.

A man running a pharmacy in To Kwa Wan, meanwhile, said he has run out of popular brands of paracetamol, with most of his customers telling him they were buying the medicine for other people.

“Most of them are being asked by mainlanders to buy designated brands to bring back to the mainland… such as Panadol,” he said.