The government banned, on Wednesday January 4, until January 31, the online sale of paracetamol-based products, in a persistent context of supply difficulties for this ubiquitous drug in medicine cabinets.
This decision, taken by the government in a decree published in Official newspapertakes note of the fact that “Tensions in paracetamol-based drugs have continued for more than six months”especially for forms intended for children. “The various measures taken by the health authorities, however effective they may have been, have so far not made it possible to put an end to it”acknowledges the decree.
Situation still “complex”
For several months, the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) has been asking pharmacists to ration the sale of this painkiller to each patient, which is used in particular as a basis for Doliprane and Dafalgan. In December, the Ministry of Health had already warned that, despite these measures, the situation remained ” complex “ and would not resolve for several weeks.
In its decree, the government recalls in particular the worsening health situation in China, where cases of Covid-19 are increasing sharply after a sudden lifting of drastic health restrictions. The Chinese government has banned the export of paracetamol, while the country produces a large part of the active ingredient used by laboratories around the world.
These supply difficulties are also part of a broader context of shortages of multiple drugs, in France and in other countries, starting with antibiotics such as amoxicillin.