The Federation of Taiwan Pharmacists Associations yesterday said it is closely monitoring any large purchases of flu and cough medicines in pharmacies nationwide in the wake of the spread of mycoplasma-induced respiratory illnesses in China.
“We have asked pharmacies across the nation to report to us immediately if they have customers making excessively large purchases of cough and flu medicines,” federation president Huang Jin-shun (黃金舜) told reporters at the sidelines of a press conference in Taipei.
The federation received reports from some pharmacies that there were Taiwanese businesspeople working in China or Chinese spouses married to Taiwanese asking to purchase large amounts of antibiotics, which pharmacies are not allowed to sell if the customers do not have prescriptions, Huang said.
Photo: Chiu Chih-jou, Taipei Times
However, cough and flu medicines are over-the-counter drugs and can be purchased without prescriptions, he said.
“We are also concerned that some customers might buy these medicines from Taiwan to give them as gifts to their friends and relatives in China, which is now plagued by respiratory illness caused by mycoplasma and other viruses. Others might want to profit by reselling these medicines at higher prices,” he said.
Taiwanese businesspeople in China have said that Taiwan’s flu and intestinal medicines are five times more expensive in China than in Taiwan, he said.
The respiratory illness outbreak in China this time has created demand for mostly flu and cough medicines, he said.
“It is normal for customers to buy one or two packs, but it would be unusual to ask to buy 10 or 20 packs. If that situation happens, our members need to tell us immediately. We will also report any abnormality to the government,” he added.
A shortage of painkillers and antipyretics was reported in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand and Australia when China ended COVID-19 lockdowns at the end of last year, which led to a dramatic surge in COVID-19 cases.
Hospitalization rates have recently increased in northern and southern China, with influenza being the main cause, the Centers for Disease Control said, citing data from Chinese health authorities.
Meanwhile, rhinovirus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, respiratory tract fusion virus, adenovirus, SARS-CoV-2, human interstitial pneumonia virus and common cold coronavirus are cocirculating ahead of the normal epidemic period in China, the centers said, adding that all of these viruses are known viruses.
Neither new pathogens nor special mutations of known pathogens have been detected, Chinese health authorities said.
Tropical depression TD22, which was over waters south of the Ryukyu Islands, is likely to develop into a tropical storm by this morning and pose a significant threat to Taiwan next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The depression is likely to strengthen into a tropical storm named Krathon as it moves south and then veers north toward waters off Taiwan’s eastern coast, CWA forecaster Hsu Chung-yi (徐仲毅) said. Given the favorable environmental conditions for its development, TD22’s intensity would reach at least typhoon levels, Hsu said. As of 2pm yesterday, the tropical depression was about 610km east-southeast of Taiwan proper’s
RESTRICTIONS: All food items imported from the five prefectures must be accompanied by radiation and origin certificates, and undergo batch-by-batch inspection The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday announced that almost all produce from five Japanese prefectures affected by the 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant disaster would now be allowed into Taiwan. The five are Fukushima, Gunma, Chiba, Ibaraki and Tochigi. The only items that would still be blocked from being imported into the nation are those that are still banned from being circulated in Japan, the FDA added. With the removal of the ban, items including mushrooms, the meat of wild birds and other wild animals, and koshiabura” (foraged vegetables) would now be permitted to enter Taiwan, along with the other
A new tropical storm is expected to form by early tomorrow morning, potentially developing into a medium-strength typhoon that is to affect Taiwan through Wednesday next week, the Central Weather Administration said today. There are currently two tropical systems circulating to the east of Taiwan, agency forecaster Hsu Chung-yi (徐仲毅) said. The one currently north of Guam developed into Tropical Storm Gebi this afternoon and is expected to veer toward Japan without affecting Taiwan, Hsu said. Another tropical depression is 600km from the east coast and is likely to develp into the named storm Krathon either late tonight or early tomorrow, he said. This
DIVA-READY: The city’s deadline for the repairs is one day before pop star Jody Chiang is to perform at the Taipei Dome for the city’s Double Ten National Day celebrations The Taipei City Government has asked Farglory Group (遠雄集團) to repair serious water leaks in the Taipei Dome before Friday next week, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said yesterday, following complaints that many areas at the stadium were leaking during two baseball games over the weekend. The dome on Saturday and Sunday hosted two games in tribute to CTBC Brothers’ star Chou Szu-chi (周思齊) ahead of his retirement from the CPBL. The games each attracted about 40,000 people, filling the stadium to capacity. However, amid heavy rain, many people reported water leaking on some seats, at the entrance and exit areas, and the