Pain and fever relief medications are running out at some pharmacies in Bangkok, particularly in areas where there is a high concentration of tourists from China, according to a random survey conducted by Thai PBS reporters.
Nawat Chevapruek, a pharmacist at a drug store in the Huai Khwang district, said that the tourists are buying so much pain relief balm, plasters and other fever and pain medications that they are having to replenish stock more often.
He thinks that some buy the medications for relatives in China or to resell back home.
The owner of another pharmacy, in the Phra Nakhon district, said that, apart from Chinese, European tourists are also buying fever medications from his store.
Krung Surawetsuntorn, president of the Thai Pharmacies Association, said that the return of tourists from China to Thailand has increased the demand for fever medications, such as Tylenol, Paracetamol and cough remedies.
Face masks and rapid antigen test kits are still readily available and their prices have dropped substantially, he said, adding that anti-COVID drugs, such as Molnupiravir tablets, are available at some pharmacies at about 1,500 baht per bottle and most of the customers for these are Chinese.
