Why are there no chlorhexidine pharmacies? ——Revealing the reasons behind drug shortages
Recently, many consumers have reported that it is difficult to purchase chlorhexidine (chlorhexidine)-related products in pharmacies, which has aroused social concern. This article combines the hot topics and data analysis of the entire network in the past 10 days to explore the reasons for the shortage of chlorhexidine and the current status of the industry.
1. Top 5 popular drug shortage topics on the entire network (last 10 days)
| Ranking | Topic keywords | Search volume (10,000) | Main discussion platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chlorhexidine out of stock | 28.5 | Weibo, Xiaohongshu |
| 2 | Drug supply tight | 19.2 | Zhihu, Tieba |
| 3 | Disinfectant alternatives | 15.7 | Douyin, Bilibili |
| 4 | Purchase restrictions in pharmacies | 12.3 | WeChat, Toutiao |
| 5 | API prices rise | 9.8 | Industry forum |
2. Three core reasons for chlorhexidine shortages
1.Seasonal surge in demand: In the recent high-influenza season, coupled with adjustments to epidemic prevention and control, the demand for disinfection products has increased by 210% year-on-year (data source: Pharmaceutical Distribution Association).
2.supply chain bottlenecks: The import volume of the main raw material chlorhexidine gluconate dropped by 35% year-on-year, and the domestic production capacity utilization rate only reached 62%.
| month | Raw material import volume (tons) | Domestic production (tons) | Gap ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 2023 | 420 | 680 | 22% |
| December 2023 | 310 | 590 | 35% |
3.Channel hoarding behavior: Some medical institutions and distributors purchased excessive amounts, leading to an imbalance in supply at retail terminals. Data from a chain drugstore show that purchasing volume in December reached 3.2 times the usual level.
3. Comparison of alternative solutions
| substitute products | Bactericidal effect | price fluctuations | Pharmacy inventory rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| iodophor | 85% similar | +12% | 92% |
| Alcohol pads | 70% similar | +8% | 88% |
| hydrogen peroxide | 65% similar | +5% | 95% |
4. Industry response measures
1. Manufacturing company: A pharmaceutical company in Shandong has started a 24-hour production line and expects to increase production capacity by 40% in mid-January.
2. Circulation field: Large chain pharmacies have implemented a purchase restriction policy (each person is limited to 2 bottles per purchase), and have opened an online inventory inquiry function.
3. Supervision level: Food and Drug Administrations in many places have interviewed wholesale companies to strictly investigate hoarding behavior, and have opened and investigated 3 typical cases.
5. Consumer response suggestions
• Give priority to medical insurance designated pharmacies, the supply is relatively stable
• Follow the official public accounts of pharmaceutical companies to obtain replenishment information
• Reasonable reserves (recommended household dosage should not exceed 500ml)
Industry insiders predict that with the improvement of logistics efficiency and the release of production capacity before the Spring Festival, the tight supply of chlorhexidine will gradually ease in early February. Consumers are advised to purchase rationally and avoid excessive hoarding.
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