SINGAPORE, Dec 22 — With increased demand for over-the-counter medicines to treat flu, cough and cold, reportedly to be couriered to China, the Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday (December 21) advised the public to buy medicines for their own use only.

The ministry said it is closely monitoring the situation, adding that it is working with retailers and pharmacies to ensure the availability of medicines to treat fever, cough and cold for Singaporeans.

MoH was responding to media queries on the stock situation in pharmacies, following a report by CNA on the same day of long queues of Chinese nationals at courier service companies in People's Park Complex to send these drugs back to China.

The drugs include the painkiller Panadol or the traditional Chinese medicine Lianhua Qingwen. Some courier companies have also decided to impose limits on the number of customers sending medical supplies as a result, reported CNA.

China had eased nationwide Covid-19 restrictions on December 7, which includes scrapping frequent mass testing and imposing shorter lockdowns. Chinese nationals in Singapore who are worried about ...