Khairy said the discussions revealed a detailed list of medicines with shortages, shared by the Malaysian Organisation of Pharmaceutical Industries (MOPI), the Pharmaceutical Association of Malaysia (PhAMA) and the Malaysian Association of Pharmaceutical Suppliers (MAPS).

“These are mostly over-the-counter medications such as antibiotics, paediatric medications and cough syrups,” he said at a press conference, adding that medications for food poisoning, fever and common flu were also in low supply.

Khairy noted that the pharmaceutical associations said these shortages were mainly due to supply chain disruptions which had caused delays in shipment.

He said the low supply of paracetamol and Vitamin C was mainly due to shortages in raw materials, disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and the increase in demand following the recent Omicron wave.

“As a result, the public ended up buying more than they needed,” he said.

He said the ministry’s pharmaceutical services division had been instructed to look into alternative medicines in view of these shortages prolonging.

Last week, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) said the “unprecedented” demand for common medications had caught pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors off guard. It advised the public against panic buying.

On June 3, the health ministry said there was no shortage of pharmaceutical products as there were alternative medicines and brands in the market which offered the same results.

It said manufacturers had also increased their production capacity to meet the increased demand.

Meanwhile, in conjunction with World Food Safety Day today, Khairy urged all home-based food business owners to apply and get listed on the health ministry’s website.

“This way we can ensure that these businesses are adhering to our food safety protocols,” he said.

He stressed that the application was voluntary and that the ministry did not want to stand in the way of small and micro businesses.