NTUC FairPrice Now Sets Purchase Limit for Panadol & Nurofen Products

During the COVID period, everyone rushed to buy masks.

In true Singaporean fashion, our kiasu-ness continued post-pandemic.

Now, people are rushing to buy meds, but it’s not for the reason you think it is.

Fairprice Imposes Purchase Limit

In light of the rise in sales for fever, cold, and flu medicines, FairPrice has imposed a purchase limit on all Panadol and Nurofen products. 

Now, each customer can only purchase a total of four units of Panadol and Nurofen in any combination. 

According to the chain’s spokesperson, the policy was put into play on Thursday (22 December), and customer notices throughout all branches have been up to inform the public. 

This move was “in alignment” with the Health Ministry’s latest advisory to “buy in moderation,” said the spokesperson. 

Beyond this, we also offer alternative fever, flu, and cold medication from comparable brands to ensure that the community has access to medicines and health-related products they need,” said FairPrice.

On Fairprice’s website, the up-to-four rule is still applied, as shown below. 

Image: FairPrice

Also, some products are even sold out. 

Image: FairPrice
Image: FairPrice
Image: FairPrice

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China’s Demand

Why are Panadol and Nurofen in such high demand?

Panadol contains paracetamol and Nurofen contains ibuprofen. Because of this, they’re popular painkillers, and many seek to buy them during this period not for themselves, but for their families. 

Because China is currently facing a spike in COVID-19 cases due to drug shortages, many China nationals in Singapore are purchasing and exporting these flu medicines to their homeland,

As such, courier services have seen snaking queues of China nationals waiting hours to send their supplies back home. 

In an interview with a Lianhe Zaobao reporter at Chinatown, 32-year-old Zhang Rong Rong (name transliterated from Chinese) said: “Panadol can’t be bought in China. It doesn’t matter if it takes a month to send; it can still be used after the Chinese New Year.”

It was found that Zhang sent 18 boxes of Panadol and two bottles of cough medicine to her parents in Beijing. 

Yes, 18.

MOH has urged the public to purchase medicines in moderation and sufficient only for their consumption to avoid wastage. Also, it has said the situation is being monitored and is working with retailers to secure the supply of medicines for Singaporeans in need. 

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Featured Image: Fairprice + Capitaland