Pakistan is facing a severe shortage of Panadol at the moment. The widely used OTC medicine is no longer being produced by its manufacturer, which spells further doom for the flood victims in dire need of the drug. What has caused the shortage of Panadol? And what Panadol alternatives are available in Pakistan that you can use instead? Read the article to find out!
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Panadol is the brand name of an analgesic and antipyretic OTC medicine commonly used to treat mild to moderate pain, headache, fever, etc. Glaxosmith Kline (GSK) is the manufacturer of Panadol.
The active ingredient in Panadol is Paracetamol or Acetaminophen. Panadol is sold in various forms, including tablets, drops, soluble tablets, and suppositories. Moreover, a few variants of Panadol, including Panadol Extra and Panadol Extend, are also being sold.
The reason behind the Panadol shortage is that it’s no longer financially viable for its manufacturer to continue producing it. The manufacturer has also requested authorities to increase the price of Panadol by Rs. 1 per tablet to no avail.
As reported by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Association of Pakistan, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) requested the increase of the price of Panadol by Rs.1 per tablet to the health ministry. However, the document was rejected by the federal cabinet.
Therefore, Panadol’s manufacturer has now halted production of a massive 450 million tablets, which it was producing per month. They have also stated that they cannot sell the medicine at a lower price than the production cost.
Paracetamol is sold under various brand names in Pakistan. Following is a list of medicines that can be used as an alternative to Panadol:
The shortage of Panadol has taken place at a terrible time with rising rural and urban demand for medicine, especially in flood-affected areas. Moreover, dengue cases are rising in the country, further adding to the already growing demand for the drug.
Thankfully, Panadol alternatives are readily available in Pakistan and can provide some much-needed relief to patients despite the scarce availability of Panadol. As a final note, it is advised to be wary of substandard and fake tablets of Panadol which are being sold at some pharmacies during this time, as noted by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).
For more information about which alternative of Panadol you should use and its dosage, refer to your General Physician. You can book your in-person or online appointments with top specialists across Pakistan through oladoc.com.
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