Cheung Tak-wing, the vice chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Pharmacy Limited, said that Panadol has already sold out in many pharmacies.

He added that the reduced logistics capacity during Christmas has exacerbated the shortage of medicine supply.

"The usual supply of medical products, which used to be three days a week, now becomes two days or even one day per week to pharmacies," Cheung said.

Medicines for flu and cough are also in tight supply.

"It is believed that some traders hoarded medicine for a higher price, but I don't think this phenomenon is usual," Cheung supposed, "the main reason for medicine shortage is the panic buying."

He added that the next wave of medicine shortage may occur during the Chinese New Year Festival, citing that people tend to prepare well before the holidays.

Earlier this month, Watsons Hong Kong announced it would impose a limitation on medicine provision, regulating that one customer can only buy no more than three boxes of medical products which function for flu, fever, cough, and so on.