Mr. Nguyen Hai Nam, Deputy Chief of Office of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, said: “According to reports from units in the city, the supply of some specific drugs for severe hand, foot and mouth disease is currently facing difficulties. The current stock of drugs in hospitals is sufficient for use in the current period, but will face difficulties if the epidemic situation increases in the coming time. After acknowledging the difficulties from units and doing a good job of forecasting the situation, the City Department of Health has sent a dispatch to the Drug Administration of Vietnam (Ministry of Health) requesting support in finding sources of supply.”

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, on June 5, the Drug Administration Department issued an official dispatch guiding the city on the supply of Immunoglobulin and Phenobarbital drugs. Of which, for drugs containing Immunoglobulin, Human normal immunoglobulin (100mg/ml) imported by Zuellig Pharma Vietnam Company, there are 2,344 boxes of 250ml and 215 boxes of 50ml left. It is expected that in mid-August 2023, the manufacturer will continue to supply Vietnam with 2,000 boxes of 250ml.

In addition, the 5% Human Immunoglobulin drug imported by Duy Anh Pharmaceutical Trading Company Limited is expected to supply Vietnam with 5,000-6,000 vials by the end of July 2023. Currently, the number of Immunoglobulin drugs remaining in stock at hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City is only 1,371 vials.

Mr. Nguyen Hai Nam, Deputy Chief of Office of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health informed at the press conference.

Regarding Phenobarbital, the Drug Administration of Vietnam has granted permission to Central Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company CPC1 to import Barbiturate, a drug that has not been registered for circulation in Vietnam, to meet this special treatment need. According to the company's report, 21,000 vials of the drug (Phenobarbital 200mg/ml) will arrive in Vietnam in early July 2023.

Mr. Nguyen Hai Nam added: “To ensure adequate supply of drugs for the treatment of hand, foot and mouth disease, the City Department of Health has requested units to develop and implement plans for reserving, purchasing and receiving drugs in accordance with reality to ensure adequate supply of drugs for medical examination and treatment. At the same time, medical examination and treatment facilities proactively contact importing facilities to plan, order, purchase and reserve drugs in accordance with regulations.”

News and photos: HONG GIANG