China Claims Sufficient Drug Supply, Limits Sales

The Chinese foreign ministry said Friday that its domestic production of medical supplies is expanding and is generally sufficient. The statement comes as an indirect refusal of a recent offer of help. India, one of the world's biggest drugmakers, said earlier this week it was ready to help supply Chinese citizens with fever drugs. China is also one of the world's top drug producers. But the abrupt shift in its COVID-19 policy has left drugmakers ill-prepared to deal with a huge wave of infections. It's led to widespread shortages of the most common fever and cold drugs. To calm panic buying, local authorities started limiting sales of fever medications, down to the pill.