Ensuring supply and controlling prices of drugs to treat seasonal flu

The Ministry of Health requires units to ensure the supply and control the price of flu treatment drugs, especially Tamiflu and drugs containing the active ingredient oseltamivir. (Photo: SK&DS)

The document stated that recently, in some provinces and cities, the number of seasonal flu cases, especially influenza A, has been increasing. In order to ensure the supply and control of prices of seasonal flu drugs, especially influenza A drugs (Tamiflu and drugs containing the active ingredient oseltamivir), the Drug Administration of Vietnam requests the health departments of provinces and cities to urgently direct the implementation of Official Dispatch No. 3847/QLD-KD dated December 2, 2024 and Official Dispatch No. 414/QLD-KD dated February 7, 2025 of the Drug Administration of Vietnam on ensuring the supply of epidemic prevention drugs and influenza treatment drugs; at the same time, strengthen propaganda, guidance and dissemination for people not to arbitrarily buy and use influenza A drugs 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.

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 shortages of drugs for medical examination and treatment. Strictly implement regulations on drug purchase, sale and drug price management at retail establishments within the premises of medical examination and treatment establishments.

Establishments that produce, import, and trade seasonal flu medications, including influenza A medications, must proactively and urgently plan the production and import of medications to ensure supply for treatment and implement drug supply contracts with medical examination and treatment facilities according to the signed bidding results.

Drug retail establishments must strictly comply with regulations on prescription drug sales, 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. Fully comply with regulations on drug price management, and must not take advantage of the epidemic situation to speculate, hoard goods and push up drug prices for profit.

Thanh Mai

Source: https://nhandan.vn/bao-dam-cung-ung-va-kiem-soat-gia-thuoc-dieu-tri-cum-mua-post859683.html