The Drug Administration of Vietnam - Ministry of Health has just sent an official dispatch to the Departments of Health of provinces and centrally-run cities; Hospitals and Institutes under the Ministry of Health; and drug production and trading establishments regarding the supply and price control of drugs for treating seasonal flu.
According to the Drug Administration, recently, in some provinces and cities, the number of seasonal flu cases, especially influenza A, has been increasing. To ensure the supply and control the prices of seasonal flu drugs, especially influenza A drugs (Tamiflu and drugs containing the active ingredient oseltamivir), the Drug Administration requires the following units:
Department of Health of provinces and centrally-run cities: Urgently direct the implementation of ensuring the supply of drugs to prevent epidemics and drugs to treat influenza.
Strengthen propaganda, guidance and dissemination for people not to arbitrarily buy and use drugs to treat influenza A without a doctor's prescription.
Organize inspections, checks, and strictly handle violations in the trading of antiviral drugs used to treat seasonal flu and drugs to treat influenza A, especially violations of regulations on drug price management (declaring prices incorrectly, 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.
Hospitals and Institutes under the Ministry of Health proactively ensure adequate and timely supply of drugs to treat seasonal influenza, especially drugs to treat influenza A, to prevent drug shortages for medical examination and treatment at the unit.
Comply with regulations on drug purchase, sale and drug price management at retail establishments within the premises of medical examination and treatment facilities.
The Drug Administration also requires establishments producing, importing, and trading in seasonal flu treatment drugs, including influenza A treatment drugs, to proactively and urgently plan the production and import of drugs to ensure supply for treatment and to implement drug supply contracts with medical examination and treatment facilities 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.
Previously, according to Lao Dong, the influenza A epidemic has an increasing trend, causing the Tamiflu drug market in Hanoi to become scarce and prices to fluctuate.
However, people using Tamiflu to treat flu at home on their own can cause serious health consequences.
Medical experts warn that Tamiflu is a prescription drug and requires a doctor's prescription before use. Using Tamiflu without a doctor's prescription can cause serious consequences.
People can easily buy prescription drugs without a doctor's prescription. This also raises many problems and loopholes in the current management of prescription drugs.
