Nghe An Department of Health proposes strict handling of the purchase and sale of drugs to treat Covid-19

On February 16, the Nghe An Department of Health issued a document requesting to strengthen the management of advertising, buying and selling of Covid-19 test kits and treatment drugs on social networking sites.

According to the Department of Health, in the face of the complicated developments of the Covid-19 epidemic, the number of cases is increasing, many Facebook pages, Zalo, and other social networking sites have appeared advertising, marketing, and selling products such as: Covid-19 treatment drugs, drugs without circulation registration numbers (introduced as hand-carried goods, produced in Russia, the US); Covid-19 test kits that do not comply with regulations, affecting people's health and Covid-19 epidemic prevention work in Nghe An province.

Ky Son authorities inspect a local pharmacy for selling Covid-19 test kits. Photo: Contributor

Advertising, marketing and trading of products such as: Covid-19 treatment drugs, drugs without circulation registration numbers; buying and selling Covid-19 test kits that do not meet business conditions on social networking sites are not in accordance with the provisions of the Pharmacy Law dated April 6, 2016; Decree No. 54/2017/ND-CP of the Government dated May 8, 2017 detailing a number of articles and measures to implement the Pharmacy Law; Decree No. 98/2021/ND-CP of the Government dated November 8, 2021 on the management of medical equipment; Law on Advertising; Law on Business and related legal documents.

The Department of Health requested the Market Management Department, the Provincial Police, the Department of Industry and Trade, the Department of Information and Communications, and the Department of Health to strengthen management and strictly handle the advertising, sale of Covid-19 treatment drugs, drugs without circulation registration numbers, and the sale of Covid-19 test kits in violation of regulations on social networking sites in Nghe An province.

Previously, on February 11, the Nghe An Department of Health issued a document prohibiting the trading of Molnupiravir. According to the Department of Health's warning, Molnupiravir is a drug in clinical trials, has not been licensed for circulation, and is only used free of charge for Covid-19 patients participating in the research program. The purchase, sale, and misuse of Molnupiravir is a violation of the law and poses a potential risk of adversely affecting people's health, reducing the effectiveness of preventing and fighting the Covid-19 epidemic.