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PARIS, FRANCE - DECEMBER 29: The shortage of medicines in France risks being aggravated in the winter amid a triple epidemic of coronavirus, flu and bronchiolitis. Patients are struggling to find pediatric forms of paracetamol and amoxicillin in most pharmacies. Souhil Cherraben, a pharmacist in the Parisian region of Yvelines, told Anadolu Agency that the shortage that started months ago is affecting a lot of medicines. He said pediatric forms of Doliprane are becoming hard to find because of supply issues. "There is not a total shortage but we only receive small quantities," said Cherraben. "Serious shortages affect amoxicillin which is antibiotic for children." He explained solutions pharmacies have found to overcome the shortage. "The shortage started at first for amoxicillin syrup. The pharmacies tried to find solutions by replacing it with amoxicillin tablets for adults -- which can be given to children when cut in half. As a result, we have neither amoxicillin syrup nor amoxicillin tablets," he said. Cherraben said doctors were told to prescribe other antibiotics, thus there are no antibiotics left -- amoxicillin nor other types. The National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products, ANSM, confirmed last week the existence of a supply issue regarding antibiotics prescribed mostly to children. The Health Ministry said Dec. 14 at a news conference that shortages of antibiotics and paracetamol for children will persist for a couple of weeks and urged the country to have patience. (Footage by Umit Donmez/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)