The Drug Administration of Vietnam has sent a document to the Department of Health of provinces and cities under the Ministry of Health, hospitals and institutes under the Ministry, and drug production and trading establishments regarding ensuring the supply and controlling the price of flu treatment drugs.
The Drug Administration of Vietnam has sent a document to the Department of Health of provinces and cities under the Ministry of Health, hospitals and institutes under the Ministry, and drug production and trading establishments regarding ensuring the supply and controlling the price of flu treatment drugs.
According to the Drug Administration, recently, some provinces and cities have recorded an increasing number of seasonal flu cases, especially influenza A. To ensure the supply and control of prices of drugs to treat seasonal flu, especially drugs to treat influenza A (Tamiflu and drugs containing the active ingredient oseltamivir).
Faced with that reality, the Department requests units, including the Department of Health of provinces and centrally-run cities, to urgently implement Official Dispatches No. 3847/QLD-KD dated December 2, 2024 and Official Dispatch No. 414/QLD-KD dated February 7, 2025 of the Department on ensuring the supply of drugs for disease prevention and treatment of influenza.
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The Department also requested to increase propaganda, guidance and dissemination to people about not arbitrarily buying and using drugs to treat influenza A without a doctor's prescription.
At the same time, organize inspections, checks and strictly handle violations in the trading of antiviral drugs used to treat seasonal flu, especially violations in drug price management (declaring prices in violation of regulations, not posting drug prices, selling at higher prices than listed prices, etc.), cases of trading in drugs of unknown origin, selling prescription drugs without a doctor's prescription, taking advantage of the epidemic to unreasonably increase drug prices.
For hospitals and institutes under the Ministry of Health, it is necessary to proactively ensure adequate and timely supply of drugs to treat seasonal influenza, especially drugs to treat influenza A, to avoid drug shortages for medical examination and treatment at the unit; strictly implement regulations on drug purchase and sale and drug price management at retail establishments within the premises of medical examination and treatment facilities.
For drug manufacturing and trading establishments, the Drug Administration of Vietnam requires establishments manufacturing, importing, and trading in seasonal flu treatment drugs, including influenza A treatment drugs, to urgently develop plans for drug production and import to ensure supply sources for treatment and to implement drug supply contracts with medical examination and treatment establishments according to the signed bidding results.
Drug retail establishments must comply with regulations on the sale of prescription drugs, and are responsible for fully instructing people on the use of drugs according to doctors' instructions and instructions for drug use to ensure safety and effectiveness.
Drug stores are not allowed to take advantage of the epidemic situation to speculate, hoard goods and push up drug prices for profit.
Previously, some people rushed to buy Tamiflu (containing the active ingredient oseltamivir) - an antiviral drug for influenza A - to stock up due to concerns about drug prices increasing or drug shortages when the epidemic broke out. On social networking sites, many accounts and drug stores also recommended that people stock up on 1-2 packs of Tamiflu to prevent getting influenza A.
A representative of the Drug Administration of Vietnam said that the supply of drugs containing the active ingredient oseltamivir is still guaranteed. According to information from the importing company, the current inventory of Tamiflu is more than 10,000 boxes, the company has sold more than 30,000 boxes to the distribution company, and will soon import about 50,000 more boxes. The country also produces and supplies drugs containing oseltamivir, currently has more than 300,000 tablets. The wholesale price remains the same.
The Drug Administration of Vietnam warned that acts of taking advantage of and increasing drug prices for personal gain will be punished according to the provisions of Article 15 of Decree 87/2024/ND-CP dated July 12, 2024, with fines ranging from VND 50 million to VND 80 million for individuals.
For organizations, the fine will be double the fine for individuals. In addition, organizations and individuals who violate the law will be forced to remedy the consequences and return the money they have profited from the violation.
Experts also emphasize that 80-90% of flu cases are mild and can be cured on their own. Only cases with prolonged high fever and lung damage need to be hospitalized. Therefore, not all flu patients need to take Tamiflu. Mild cases of flu do not need to take Tamiflu because the disease will go away on its own.
With the seasonal flu epidemic, people need to understand Tamiflu correctly to avoid panic and unnecessary hoarding.
Although seasonal flu usually progresses benignly and resolves on its own after a short period of time, if not treated promptly or there are risk factors, it can cause serious complications such as pneumonia, otitis media, acute bronchitis and myocarditis.
Pneumonia is the most dangerous complication, which can lead to respiratory failure and death, especially in the elderly, children and those with weakened immune systems. Seasonal flu can also lead to multiple organ failure in patients with underlying medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or kidney problems.
Dr. Nguyen Tuan Hai, Safpo/Potec Vaccination System, recommends annual flu vaccination as the most effective preventive measure.
The quadrivalent influenza vaccine protects against four common strains of influenza virus. WHO has established seasonal influenza virus monitoring stations around the world, which help identify and predict the influenza virus strains that will emerge during the winter and spring seasons in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. This allows WHO to provide guidance to manufacturers on the production of seasonal influenza vaccines.
Getting a flu vaccine each year helps protect people from getting the flu, especially during the flu season from fall to spring. Both children and adults need a seasonal flu vaccine to stay healthy.
In addition, people need to practice good personal hygiene, stay healthy, get enough rest and drink plenty of water to boost their immune system and prevent flu.
Source: https://baodautu.vn/kiem-soat-gia-thuoc-dieu-tri-cum-mua-d246018.html
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