People rush to 'hunt' for Covid-19 treatment drugs even though they are only sold by prescription
(Baonghean.vn) - After the Drug Administration of Vietnam, Ministry of Health granted conditional circulation registration for 3 antiviral drugs to treat Covid-19, the number of people looking to buy these drugs skyrocketed, however, not everyone was able to buy these drugs.
According to PV's records in recent days, at pharmacies in Vinh City, many people have asked to buy Covid-19 treatment drugs when they learned that the Drug Administration of Vietnam, Ministry of Health, has licensed the circulation of Covid-19 treatment drugs on the market.
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| People look for Covid-19 treatment drugs at pharmacies in Vinh City on the afternoon of February 28. Photo: QA |
Mr. Nguyen Van Hung is in grade 12.Truong Thi wardsaid: "Currently, my family has 2 people with F0 with symptoms of severe cough and high fever. Although I have actively inhaled and taken some medicines, the symptoms have not improved. Knowing that there is an antiviral drug to treat Covid - 19, I tried to buy it, but I went to many pharmacies but still could not buy it because I did not have a doctor's prescription...".
This is also the common situation of many people in Vinh City recently, most of them rushed to buy medicine to treat Covid - 19 when they heard that the medicine had been licensed, however, in reality, only a few people were able to buy the medicine because most of the people who asked to buy it did not have a doctor's prescription.
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| Currently, the Drug Administration of Vietnam, Ministry of Health has licensed a number of antiviral drugs to treat Covid-19 on the market. Photo: QA |
The owner of HA Pharmacy on Nguyen Phong Sac Street, Hung Dung Ward, Vinh City said: "In recent days, the number of people coming to buy Covid-19 treatment drugs has increased dramatically. Most people only know that the drugs are licensed for circulation without carefully studying the regulations on drug trading. We have clearly explained that Covid-19 treatment drugs are only sold by prescription and are not sold widely, so we hope everyone understands...".
According to the explanation of pharmacies, there are currently clear regulations from the Department of Health that antiviral drugs for Covid-19 treatment can only be sold with a doctor's prescription. If the drug is sold against the regulations, it will be punished. In addition, if this drug is arbitrarily sold on the market, it can cause side effects because it is impossible to know the patient's condition. Therefore, although the drug supply is guaranteed, the sale is very limited because most of the people asking to buy it do not have enough conditions.
According to pharmacies, patients who need to buy medicine to treat Covid - 19 must go to medical facilities for examination. After understanding the patient's condition and symptoms, the doctor will prescribe a prescription appropriate to the patient's condition and situation. The patient's family will bring the prescription to the pharmacy to buy medicine. Medical staff will take a photo and save the prescription as a basis, then sell the medicine according to the correct dosage stated in the prescription. Mild illness, no underlying disease or dangerous symptoms do not need to use medicine to treat Covid - 19.
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| Official dispatch of the Department of Health on the business of antiviral drugs to treat Covid-19 in Nghe An province. Photo: Thanh Chung |
Recently, Nghe An Department of Health issued Official Dispatch No. 801/SYT-QLD on the business of antiviral drugs.Covid-19 treatmentsent to the district, city, town health departments and pharmaceutical businesses in Nghe An province. The document clearly states: Currently, the Ministry of Health has licensed the circulation of a number of antiviral drugs containing the active ingredient Molnupiravir. To avoid the phenomenon of selling antiviral drugs to treat Covid-19 in violation of regulations in Nghe An, the Department of Health requires pharmaceutical businesses in Nghe An province not to sell antiviral drugs for Covid-19 patients without a doctor's prescription.
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| Authorities inspect the sale of Covid-19 treatment drugs at pharmacies in Nghe An. Photo: QA |
Previously,Market Management Team No. 3, Nghe An Market Management Department has coordinated with the Economic Police Department, Nghe An Provincial Police to inspect and review the business situation and trade of Covid-19 prevention and control products at pharmacies. Through discussion, the leader of Nghe An Market Management Department said: In the coming time, the unit will continue to coordinate with relevant agencies, increase forces to inspect and handle the business of Covid-19 test kits and Covid-19 treatment drugs against regulations on the market, especially the widespread sale on social networking sites to ensure the rights of people in epidemic prevention and control.
The Drug Administration of Vietnam, Ministry of Health has granted conditional circulation registration for 3 Covid-19 treatment drugs containing the active ingredient Molnupiravir and announced the selling price, including:
Molravir 400, containing Molnupiravir 400 mg, hard capsule form, manufactured by Boston Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company Vietnam, priced at 11,500 VND/capsule. Boxes contain 1, 2, 5 blisters x 10 capsules/blister.
Movinavir, 200 mg Molnupiravir, hard capsule form, manufactured by Mekophar Pharmaceutical Chemical Joint Stock Company, priced at VND 8,675/capsule. Box of 10 blisters x 10 capsules.
Molnuporavir Stella 400, content 400 mg Molnupiravir, hard capsule form, manufactured by Stellapharm Joint Venture Company Limited - Branch 1, priced at 12,500 VND/capsule (hard capsule form), each box has 1 blister or 2 blisters x 10 capsules.