The Malaysian Insight

A SURGE in demand for over-the-counter medication, supply chain disruptions, and scaled-down production during the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a shortage of medicines in the country, the Malaysian Medical Association said today. 

Its president Dr Koh Kor Chai said that the increased demand for fever, cough, cold and sore throat medication is also due to the rise in Covid-19 cases. 

“During the pandemic, demand for such medicaments were at an all-time low leading to the expiry of medicines that were in storage,” Dr Koh said in a statement. 

“Manufacturers had to scale down their productions. With a sudden increase in demand, manufacturers had to then resume or scale up their manufacturing to cope with the demand. 

“This can’t happen overnight as there are immense logistical and resource issues to deal with.”

The shortage of raw materials is also causing a snag for manufacturers, Dr Koh said. 

The shortage in Malaysia is however sporadic and doctors have been working hard to find alternatives, he said.

“These are viable choices for treatment but imposes stress on the doctor who has to continually source for alternative medical supplies.” 

While the Health Ministry has offered to allow clinics with insufficient stock to tap into their pharmaceutical supplies as a short-term measure, as certain private hospitals have done, Dr Koh said this is not a viable long-term solution. 

As to when the supply will return to normal, Koh said the situation is fluctuant. 

“The situation is fluid with supply of different medicines being disrupted at different times and in different locations.” 

A doctor who works at a government clinic in Negri Sembilan told The Malaysian Insight that they have been told to limit the amount of paracetamol they prescribe. 

“We are now only allowed to give one strip of Panadol to each patient,” the doctor, who declined to be named, said. 

“Given that this is also influenza season, there is an increased demand for Panadol.

“Everyday I see at least two vans full of students who have contracted influenza,” the doctor added. – July 13, 2022.