Despite the denial of the government that there is a medicine shortage in the country, presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday, Jan. 9, urged it to coordinate with pharmaceutical companies and drugstores to make sure that Filipinos have access to basic over-the-counter medicines.

Her statement came amid the denial of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) that there is a shortage of paracetamol in leading drugstores nationwide.

Filipinos on social media complained about the long lines in drugstores, as well as the lack of paracetamol and other basic medicines for flu. Some traveled from the provinces to Metro Manila to line up for hours in drugstores.

Robredo said on her weekly radio show over dzXL that ensuring the supply of paracetamols in drugstores is “basic.”

“Dapat tinutukan na ito ng pamahalaan (The government should be focusing on this),” the Vice President stressed.

READ: DOH says no ongoing shortage of paracetamol, other drugs for flu-like symptoms

“Dapat ‘yung pamahalaan nakikipag-ugnayan na sa mga pharmacies, sa mga drugstore owners, mga drug companies kung papa’no mape-prevent itong pagkukulang na ‘to (The government should be coordinating with pharmacies, drugstore owners, drug companies on how to prevent this shortage),” she added.

The aspiring president shrugged off the statement of the Health department that there is no such shortage, saying that incidents of the shortage are “experiential.”

Even in her own circle, she’s been receiving reports of people who were not able to buy medicines.

“Ang tanong ko lang: bakit nangyayari ito sa atin (My question is, why is this happening to us?),” she asked.

Pharmaceutical companies earlier promised to restock paracetamol and other basic medicines in drugstores.