Panic buying of medicines in South Africa due to Corona virus

The pharmaceutical company Aspen is increasing it's production in the counter pain respiratory, colds and flu medicines after panic buying since the end of last week.

Respiratory products orders, anti-inflammatory pain medications like Mybulen and Ibumol are increasing. The cold and flu treatment Flusin also hiked. These medicines may be stocked to reduce coronavirus symptoms.

Other medicines like anti-nausea treatment Hyospasmol are also in great demand.

Aspen will now redirect resources to increase the production of these medicines – as a signal to the market to stop the panic buying.

Stephen Saad the CEO of Aspen Groups says the orders of some medicines were 20% per day which is similar to a monthly order.

The panic buying was fuelled in part by a ban from India, the world’s biggest supplier of generic medicines, on exports of 26 pharmaceutical ingredients, including paracetamol.

“We want to tell people to remain calm. We have large factories, there will be enough supplies in South Africa. Our supply chain is robust, we have a lot of stock,” Saad said.

He went to say that panic buying will end up causing shortages for those who could not afford in stock, especially those who are suffering from chronic conditions.

Saad says that Aspen has a commitment to the Southern African market and they will keep supplying the medicines.

As the first human trial to test a vaccine against coronavirus began in the USv, Saad says that even if it was successful, the reality is that any vaccine will be available – at best – in only twelve months’ time