China Pharmacies Told to Give Out Free Fever Meds as Outbreak Grows

Some brick-and-mortar pharmacies in China have begun providing a limited number of free fever medicines after being told by authorities to boost supplies, as demand for Covid drugs surges following the sudden reversal of the country’s zero-tolerance policy.

The largesse also comes as part of efforts to take the wind out of a booming secondary market for antipyretic drugs that has emerged on platforms like WeChat, where people are selling and trading medicines like ibuprofen and acetaminophen.