Stockpiling or buying medication that is not required is completely unnecessary and could disadvantage other patients.
That’s the message from the Department of Health.
There are no prescription medicine shortages as a result of the coronavirus Covid-19.
However, high street retailers and pharmacies have confirmed that the cost of sourcing paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin had all risen sharply in recent weeks, in some cases by as much as 30%, as wholesalers sought to pass on higher costs.
Meanwhile, in the USA, President Donald Trump is urging the public to stop hoarding groceries amid the pandemic, telling Americans to “take it easy” and “relax”.
And a west Belfast frozen food store will open early on Tuesday for older shoppers only.
The slot on Tuesday at Iceland in the Kennedy Centre (March 17) from 8am to 9am has been allocated specifically to allow older people to shop without being surrounded by other shoppers.