Pharmacy owners are rationing medications across the country because of nationwide shortages.

Pharmac says issues with the overseas manufacture of the highly-prescribed painkiller mean they have had to impose a limit to avoid running out.

Pharmac Director of Operations Lisa Williams told Larry Williams Kiwis use a million tablets every day.

"At the moment the restriction is a hundred tablets for acute patients, which is around 12 days of treatment."

Whanganui Unichem owner Melina Holmes says there is a huge issue with paracetamol.

"The list of rationed medications grows longer every day."

LISTEN ABOVE AS LISA WILLIAMS AND MILINA HOLMES SPEAK TO LARRY WILLIAMS