Many people are considering self-prescribing medicines like antibiotics, cough syrup and anti-cold pills assuming such precautions may help them fight infection from coronavirus. Such unethical practice, totally based on rumours, is said to be widespread across the nation as there is panic buying of medicines. No proven vaccine has been invented so far to protect the humanity from the deadly Covid-19. According to physicians, people generally fall sick from during the period of February to April from common cold and fever-related illnesses due to seasonal change.
They also mentioned that, in hospitals they are attending large numbers of patients with cold related diseases. However, the symptoms of coronavirus, such as common cold-fever or normal flu, are similar. In fact, many people are taking these drugs when they have cold fever in the form of the corona. In addition, many people are buying these medicines as part of their advance preparation for the recovery of the disease.
Drug store owner at Azimpur KM Shaidul said, “People are buying drugs in panic as advance preparation. Yet, a corona infected patient died without treatment in Mirpur and the numbers are rising.” Another medicine store salesman at Dhanmondi, Palash Kumar said, “We are out of stock of certain medicines. Most customers come demand medicines for treatment of cold diseases seeking antibiotics, cough syrup and fever medicine.”
About the alleged price hike of certain medicine, he said that there is no scope of realizing excess money as the drugstore has been issuing electronic invoices,” When Habibur Rahman, a medicine consumer was asked regarding such practices, he said, “It’s a complete lie. Prices of most of the drugs on high demand are enhanced. I went to three drugstore and all of them realised Tk 20-40 more than the regular price.”
A drug dealer in Shahabagh said, “We are not the only one to raise prices of drugs. All the reputed pharmaceutical companies have raised prices. What can we do in such situation.” The director of the Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College & Hospital (SSMCH) Dr Uttam Kumar Barua said, “The demand for these drugs has increased due to the similarity of coronavirus and common flu symptoms. The number of other patients is decreasing due to panic. No one is coming unless absolutely necessary. For this, a flu corner has been introduced in the hospital for the treatment of cold and coughs.”
He also suggested, that if there is a problem like seasonal influenza, a patient should call the hotline number provided by the department of health or come to the hospital and use the medicine as per the duty doctor's advice. National Heart Foundation Hospital & Research Institute (NHFRI) medical officer (outdoor) Kamrul Islam said,” Our hospital specialized for heart care but patients with common cold-fever are also seeking treatment. All are being attended. However, some patients are coming who do not need medication. Nevertheless, it is advisable to take medicines like Alatrol, Histasin, Paracetamol and C vitamins for the treatment of flue and cough.
The Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA), Major General Mahbubur Rahman said, “At the moment there is no shortage of hand sanitizer and other ingredients in the country. Because 8 companies previously manufactured hand sanitizers but now 31 companies are producing them. As a result, production is four times higher than before. “ However, our instincts are that when a crisis arises, many stocks it, he mentioned as a reason.
