5 mil Tylenols will be released to market…100 per pharmacy

Will be distributed via 40 wholesalers… is not ‘public Tylenol’

Will supply 100 to each pharmacy with no differentiation between regions or pharmacies… additional amount to be ordered individualy by each pharmacy

‘Public Tylenol will be supplied,’ ‘Why is the government unnecessarily supplying Tylenol to every pharmacy?’ On the 11th, the pharmacists’ community heat up over the Tylenol supply issue.

 

The issue was sparked with some distributors spreading the news that ‘public rationed Tylenol will be released in the market from the 14th.' The social media chat rooms of pharmacists heated up with intense debate at the news that was spread before the government’s announcement.

 

To clarify, the to-be-supplied Tylenol is not ‘public’ Tylenol.

 

It is a measure made by the government to solve the current Tylenol shortage, under which the government plans to release the maximum amount of antipyretic analgesics to the market.

 

From the released products, each pharmacy may order the amount needed, therefore the measure is not public rationing in any sense.

 

Also, pharmacies that do not need Tylenol do not need to take up the supply, so there is no need for pharmacies to complain ‘Why the government is unnecessarily supplying Tylenol to every pharmacy?’ But it is true that the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has called on relevant associations including the pharmacists', pharmaceutical, and distribution associations to address the issue.

 

The MFDS had recently called on the Korean Pharmacists’ association, Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association, and Korean Pharmaceuticals Distribution Association to resolve the shortage caused by the surge in demand.

 

The government’s goal is to ‘allow the public to be able to purchase acetaminophen as needed after COVID-19 vaccinations without differences by region or pharmacy by resolving the supply-demand imbalance in pharmacies.’ As a result, 5 million 500mg Tylenol will be released on the market.

 

This is the total amount that Johnson & Johnson had been stockpiling for the next year, and this total amount will be released in two phases, 2.4 million and 2.6 million, respectively.

 

Each company may first secure 100 each, and the supply will be avaialbe as early as from the 15th, depending on the pharmacy.

 

40 wholesalers will oversee the distribution.

 

The Korean Pharmaceuticals Distribution Association divided the pharmacies by region for 40 companies to cover.

 

For example, a pharmacy located in Yeongdeungpo district in Seoul will receive 100 Tylenols from BaekGwang Pharm, which is in charge of the Yeongdeungpo area, even if the pharmacy uses multiple distributors like BaekGwang Pharm, Geo-young, and Yujin Pharm.

 

The order method may also differ by the wholesaler.

 

Some distributors may call the pharmacy or make visits to each pharmacy to distribute Tylenol.

 

“To resolve the issue of pharmacies that works with various distributors, we divided the regions between 40 wholesalers,” explained an official from the Korean Pharmaceuticals Distribution Association.

 

“The necessary amount may differ by the size and situation of each pharmacy, so after fairly distributing 100 to each pharmacy that wants Tylenol, the rest will be left to be ordered at an as-needed basis by each pharmacy.” The MFDS also called on each association to play its part in resolving the Tylenol shortage issue.

 

First, the Korean Pharmacists’ association will inform consumers about the correct use of antipyretic analgesics after vaccination through medication counseling, and continue to conduct a campaign informing the public that all domestically approved acetaminophen products have the same efficacy and effect as Tylenol.

 

The Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association and acetaminophen producers will maximize the production volume of their drugs by releasing their inventory by mid-June as well as by mobilizing all capabilities available to adjust the production schedule to expedite supply.

 

MFDS said, “The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and relevant organizations will do the best to supply acetaminophen to the people in need at the right time according to the government's vaccination plan.

 

Also, we will share the supply and demand status with relevant institutions through regular monitoring and immediately provide the necessary administrative support to suppliers to increase production of acetaminophen products.”