Lack of proactive shopping planning

SGGP 10/21/2023 07:07

On the afternoon of October 20, in the face of the shortage of medicines, medical supplies and vaccines occurring in Ho Chi Minh City and some southern provinces and cities, SGGP reporters had an interview with representatives of some functional units of the Ministry of Health to clarify solutions in the coming time.

According to Mr. Le Thanh Cong, Deputy Director of the Department of Planning and Finance, in recent times, the Government and the Ministry of Health have had many mechanisms and policies on reforming administrative procedures, licensing, and bidding to remove difficulties for localities and hospitals in autonomously purchasing medicines and medical supplies. However, in some units and localities, there is still a shortage of medicines and medical supplies because some units and contractors are still hesitant.

Along with that, medical facilities and localities have not been really determined in implementing regulations on bidding and purchasing medicines and medical supplies due to the mentality of "fear of making mistakes, fear of responsibility, fear of being inspected and checked".

Clarifying the lack of medicine to treat hand, foot and mouth disease in Ho Chi Minh City and some southern provinces and cities, Mr. Le Viet Dung, Deputy Director of the Drug Administration Department, said that the department has licensed the import of 15,000 vials of Immunoglobulin to meet the special treatment needs of medical facilities. To date, the importing enterprise has imported more than 8,200 vials of this medicine to Vietnam to supply to hospitals. It is expected that by November, another 2,000 vials of Immunoglobulin will be imported into the country, and the importing enterprise is waiting for orders from treatment units.

For Phenobarbital, there is currently one domestic manufacturing enterprise that has been granted a valid circulation registration certificate in Vietnam, and this enterprise has also imported raw materials to produce the above drug but is still waiting for orders from treatment units.

The Department has also granted import licenses for 21,000 vials of Phenobarbital that have not been registered for circulation in Vietnam. This quantity of medicine has been provided to a number of medical facilities in need.

The Drug Administration of Vietnam has received requests from a number of units to import injectable barbit drugs. The agency is guiding businesses to complete procedures and documents to import this type of drug.

“The reality shows that there is no shortage of input supply, but there are still treatment units and localities that have not been proactive in developing and implementing plans to reserve, purchase, and receive drugs in accordance with reality to ensure enough drugs for professional work, medical examination and treatment for patients,” Mr. Le Viet Dung informed.

Source