JEDDAH: Pharmacies and stores in Jeddah are experiencing a shortage of antibacterial products such as hand sanitizers due to a recent surge in demand.
The shortage, which has also resulted in a black market of such items, is attributed to schools asking parents to send in antibacterial products when schools reopened.
Pharmacies in several districts of north Jeddah, including Al-Rawdah, Al-Salama and Al-Faisaliah, have sold out of such products, especially Dettol hand sanitizers.
One pharmacist said he ran out of Dettol antibacterial products five days ago after receiving a huge supply from Riyadh. "I do not know why people insist on buying Dettol. There are other products that are just as good but people insist on buying just Dettol since schools have asked for it in particular," he said.
He added that such items can still be found in small shops away from main streets and crowded districts.
Murtada Sayed, an Egyptian pharmacist in Al-Salama, said customers ask him every day to save them Dettol hand sanitizers.
Mahmoud Attar, a father of three, found "great difficulty" in buying Dettol antibacterial products. "After looking for a while, I simply bought an alternative branded item. The school then asked me to bring only Dettol branded items. I wonder why schools insist on one brand when alternatives are available. I am willing to buy whatever is available," he added.
Fadi Abu Dewan, national key accounts manager of Dettol in the Kingdom, said the demand for Dettol products recently increased sharply.
"The sudden increase could be attributed to swine flu, or to a rise in awareness about bacteria which has coincided with schools opening," he said.
He added that Dettol stocks finished across the Kingdom two weeks ago and that a large supply is expected at the end of the week. "As long as there is a need, we will meet it," he added.
© Arab News 2009
