A COVID-19 drug containing the active substance Molnupiravir sold at a drugstore (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has
demanded immediate simplification of administrative procedures for buying
COVID-19 medications.
He asked the to give instructions and
guidance to immediately streamline for the purchase,
while basing on the reality and referring to other countries’ experience to
quickly make decisions about COVID-19 drug import and use.
The Government leader also requested enhancing
management over drug prices, strictly dealing with drug speculation and
smuggling, and creating favourable conditions for people to access and buy drugs.
Earlier, local media reported that when the
COVID-19 medications containing the active substance officially hit
the shelves of drugstores, not many people could buy since they failed to meet
related regulations like having patient certificates or doctor’s prescriptions.
Epidemiologist Truong Huu Khanh said asking for
doctor’s prescriptions before selling antiviral drugs is right, but this rule
has become too bureaucratic when it comes to COVID-19.
He explained that there haven’t been any regulations on which
doctors are permitted to make this type of prescription. Meanwhile, it will be
too late if people have to wait for local authorities to grant patient certificates
as the drug is only used for the first days of infection. Therefore,
it is necessary to streamline procedures./.
Source: VietnamPlus
