PETALING JAYA: Information sharing on medicine by social media influencers is unwittingly leading Malaysians to hoard medications, and worsening the medicine shortage, pharmacists say. A pharmacist in Hulu Kelang who wishes to remain anonymous said viral videos on social media had caused an increase in demand for certain brands of paracetamol. “Before this, some brands were selling slow, but when influencers promoted certain brands on TikTok, it was sold out,” she said. “Some customers blindly follow and ask for a certain type of medicine that these influencers claim can treat Covid-19. She added that medicine for flu-like symptoms, especially of certain brands such as Difflam and Panadol, have been on low supply since January.
