HCMC – The Ministry of Health’s Drug Administration of Vietnam has written to the HCMC Department of Health asking it to make clear why Covid-19 antiviral drugs are being peddled under the counter though they have yet to be officially authorized for use in Vietnam.
These Covid-19 antiviral drugs are still undergoing a clinical trial at hospitals. However, they can be easily found under the counter, according to the ministry.
Some individuals are putting up Molnupiravir, an antiviral drug for Covid treatment, for sale on social media even though it is in the process of a clinical trial.
The Favipiravir antiviral drug for Covid treatment can be easily bought on social media even though it has yet to be officially approved for use in Vietnam, the local media reported.
The ministry said that the purchase and sale of unlicensed drugs is illegal in line with the Law on Pharmacy and poses a threat to people’s health.
The illegal sale would also reduce the effectiveness of the city’s pandemic response plan and pave the way for the smuggling of fake and substandard drugs.
Harsh sanctions must be imposed on violators, according to the ministry.
In addition, the ministry ordered the health authority in HCMC to check the shortage of medication bags for Covid cases at Covid treatment facilities and promptly provide them with medicines to avoid the rampant trading of Covid drugs.
