(Yicai Global) Dec. 29 -- Pharmacies in some Chinese cities have begun dividing boxes of ibuprofen and paracetamol into smaller batches to meet surging demand as the number of people with fevers and muscle pains climbs.

The cities of Wuxi, Fuzhou, Nanchang, Ma’anshan, Sanya, and Zhuhai have all implemented the split package strategy so that pharmacies can dispense the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to more people, according to Yicai Global’s calculations.

The frequently-sold ibuprofen sustained-release capsules and paracetamol packs are equivalent to the dosage for four to six people, pharmacists said, adding that splitting them can help more sick people.

Drugstores in Wuxi have been dividing fever-reducing medicines into smaller packs since Dec. 24, the city’s market regulator said, adding that the practice is allowed if the pills are sold in fixed quantities, based on the treatment course of the drugs.

Meituan Maiyao, the online medical services provider of delivery giant Meituan, announced it will add an online self-service drug-splitting function for pharmacies from today to help them sell ibuprofen sustained-release capsules and paracetamol in small batches.

Some internet-based platforms, such as messaging app WeChat, Twitter-like Weibo, and e-commerce behemoth JD.Com, have launched mutual aid functions for Covid-19-related medicines. Users can post announcements for some medical products they need, including drugs and antigen test kits, so others show have more than they need can share their supply.

Editors: Liao Shumin, Futura Costaglione