In response to an increase in COVID-19 cases, China has requisitioned medical supply production across the nation as millions struggle to access basic medications and diagnostic kits.
According to AFP interviews and local media, more than a dozen Chinese pharmaceutical companies have been requested by officials to "secure supplies" of essential medications in order to address widespread shortages.
Following the abrupt lifting of years-long lockdowns, quarantines, and mass testing by the Chinese government, pharmacies in major cities have been stripped bare.
Authorities have advised anyone with minor symptoms to stay at home and self-treat, which has caused a run on supplies of everything from ibuprofen to fast antigen tests.
According to local reports, at least 11 of the 42 test kit manufacturers whose goods are licensed by China's medical regulators have had some of their manufacturing seized by the government or have received instructions from the government.
Authorities in Beijing have assigned more personnel to six antigen kit manufacturers to help them "increase production" according to the municipality's website.
Officials in Zhuhai city said on Monday that ID registration will be required to purchase fever drugs at more than 500 pharmacies, with citizens now limited to six tablets per week.
The city of Nanjing, the capital of eastern Jiangsu province, said it had obtained two million fever treatment tablets, but clients were only allowed six per week.
On Monday, authorities in Zhuhai city announced that ID registration will be necessary in order to acquire fever-relieving medications from more than 500 pharmacies, with citizens currently being permitted to purchase six tablets each week.
A fast antigen test manufacturer in the southern city of Xiamen, Wiz Biotech, confirmed to AFP on Thursday (Dec. 22) that the local authorities will requisition all of its kits.
Hangzhou, a city in eastern China, asked residents to order medications "rationally" based on their needs on Thursday.
"Do not blindly hoard medicines ... Leave them to the people who really need them," read a notice from the city's market supervisory administration.
According to one analyst, the supply constraint was caused by logistics rather than production.
As the number of cases rises, hospital wards in big cities are becoming overcrowded with older COVID-19 patients.
An AFP journalist in Shanghai's eastern megacity observed corridors of an emergency department crowded with stretchers carrying elderly individuals hooked up to oxygen tanks.
At least 15 such patients were seen flowing out of wards into the hallway, some with bags next to their trolleys.
