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fter there is a shortage of Remdesivir and fabiflu   in the market, another issue of panic buying is in the limelight. Demand for basic medicines like paracetamol, Azithromycin, Ivermectin has been kept in stock because of fear of its possible shortage.

Most of the manufacturers are working towards building up inventory for these essential drugs that could last for three to six months. Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) like Paracetamol, Azithromycin, Maropenem and others have increased up to 300 per cent in the market. The ingredients for ivermectin have seen a price surge from rupees 17,000 per kg in February to 58,000 per kg. For Azithromycin it has increased by rupees 3,500per kg whereas for Doxycycline has doubled.

Even Union Health ministry on Thursday in its revised guidelines for home isolation of mild/asymptomatic covid-19 patient suggested that "If fever is not controlled with the maximum dose of the tablet. Paracetamol 650 mg 4 times a day consult the treating Doctor, Who may consider advising Other Drugs like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAID),(ex: tab. Naproxen 250 mg twice a day), tab ivermectin 200 mcg/kg once a day, to be taken on an empty stomach) for 3 to 5 days should not be considered."'

According to Dr Sudip Nagar, sales head of a Mumbai based pharma company said that" there is price inflation with regards to many medicines prescribed to the home quarantine patients. This is not panic buying like we saw last year. It is procured by the needy patients. Medicines like Azithromycin, Vitamin D3 or Ivermectin are being sold 10 times more than compared to what it was sold the previous year. So, there is a demand-supply challenge as China has also stopped shipment of essential goods until yesterday. Most of the pharmaceutical companies are building up inventory for these basic medicines for 3 to 6 months. So, if the situation continues then there will be no problem till September".