Medicine to treat hand, foot and mouth disease will be available in July

SGGP 07/03/2023 09:14

By the end of June, the country had recorded more than 12,600 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), including four deaths. The number of cases was most concentrated in the southern provinces, accounting for more than 70% of the total cases nationwide.

According to the Ministry of Health, there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment for HFMD. Professor Phan Trong Lan, Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine, said that each time a child gets sick, they can only create antibodies to a certain type of virus, so they can still get sick again if infected with another virus.

The Ministry of Health has assigned the following hospitals: Central Tropical Diseases Hospital, Central Children's Hospital, Hue Central General Hospital, Children's Hospital 1, Children's Hospital 2, City Children's Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City Tropical Diseases Hospital, and tropical disease hospitals in provinces and cities to review conditions of human resources, facilities, medical equipment, drugs, etc. to receive severe cases. At the same time, 7 delegations were established to inspect, supervise, and direct epidemic prevention work in 14 key provinces and cities.

Things to know about hand, foot and mouth disease. Source: MINISTRY OF HEALTH

Records at pediatric hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi show that the number of cases of TCM has increased rapidly in recent days. Ms. Le Thien Quynh Nhu, Chief of Office of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, informed that according to reports from units, the source of Immunoglobulin and Phenobarbital injections for severe TCM cases may face difficulties in the near future if the TCM epidemic continues.

In addition to other drugs currently on the market such as Diazepam, Midazolam, phenobarbital (oral), Phenobarbital 100mg/ml injection is one of the anticonvulsants, under special control. Currently, there is a business supplying units in the area according to import orders. The order has been approved by the Drug Administration and the next batch of drugs is expected to arrive in early July.

Meanwhile, Immunoglobulin mainly uses imported drugs. Currently, the winning drug bidding units in the area are continuing to promote related procedures, coordinating with suppliers to supply drugs. The Drug Administration has also issued many documents guiding and requesting to ensure the supply of treatment drugs.

Professor Phan Trong Lan said that the Ministry of Health has directed pharmaceutical businesses to make efforts to find sources of supply and urgently import Immunoglobulin drugs to Vietnam as soon as possible to promptly meet the demand for TCM treatment. For other treatment drugs, in case of a risk of limited supply, the Ministry of Health has a plan in place to ensure it.

The Ministry also requested localities to proactively develop plans for reserves and purchases and promptly report in case of supply shortages to ensure treatment and disease prevention.

Currently, 6,000 bottles of Immunoglobulin have been imported to Vietnam to supply hospitals, initially meeting the urgent needs of hospitals.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/thang-7-se-co-thuoc-dieu-tri-benh-tay-chan-mieng-post695936.html