Consumers bemoan dwindled supply of COVID-19 medicines

COVID-19 test kits are in steep demand in Hanoi as cases rise to record highs

On February 28, Thuy Nguyen, a 39-year-old woman living in Linh Dam in the south of Hanoi, had to visit seven drugstores in order to find all the necessary products for her neighbour, who had tested positive for COVID-19. Test kits, painkillers, mouthwash, and cough medicine were among the medication that she sought.

“It was so difficult to source these simple drugs,” Nguyen said. “And even though the price of tests has reached VND110,000 ($4.80) per unit, I still found it hard to get some.”

Nguyen noted that it was easier to find and buy the same medicines just few weeks previously and that her friends in other districts are now also facing the same issue.

According to a pharmacist at one drugstore in Linh Dam, test kits are the most sought after products these days. “We ran out of them a few days ago. We are waiting for suppliers to bring more products,” she added.

At the Long Chau drugstore chain, a pharmacist said that her store had only one kind of test, a South Korean-made product with the price of $4.80 per unit.

Similarly, at Pharmacity, Vietnam’s largest pharmacy chain, a representative said that it has one kind of test kit, also made in South Korea and at the same price. “The sale of tests has soared recently. Every nine out of 10 visitors are looking for test kits. On average, each drugstore sells 100-250 home test kits a day,” the representative said.

At some drugstores in the capital’s Ba Dinh district, herbal remedies, medicated oils, paracetemol, and vitamin C tablets are also in short supply.

Meanwhile on social networks, offers to sell test kits are very popular but many have unclear origins or no license from authorised agencies. Their prices are also varied and some people have reported that they ordered a huge volume.

The popular Panadol Extra paracetemol is a trademark of GlaxoSmithKline. A company representative told VIR, “We have seen an increase in demand for Panadol since the third quarter of 2021. In view of this, we have prioritised actions in our supply chain to meet the increased demand where possible.”

A source from the MoH attributed the situation to several reasons. Firstly, the local production capacity of COVID-19 test kits is not yet sufficient enough to meet the increased demand. In addition, the main supply of tests in Vietnam is mainly imported. However, there are also reports of speculators attempting to make a profit.

In an effort to deal with the situation, the MoH is proposing the government add test kits to the list of items under price stabilisation policies, while also collaborating with state management agencies in order to strictly punish any speculators that cause negative impacts on the market.

On March 3, the MoH sent notice to cities and provinces to urge them to direct local producers and importers of medical devices to intensify production and import to ensure local supply and stabilise prices. To facilitate the treatment of infections at home, the government has asked the MoH to immediately ease administrative procedures for the purchase of relevant medication.

The MoH has recently granted marketing authorisation for three locally-made oral antiviral medications for the treatment of COVID-19 that contain the active ingredient Molnupiravir.

Vietnam is reporting over 100,000 new COVID-19 infection cases each day and Hanoi continues to lead with about 15,000 cases daily. Nguyen Huy Nga, former head of the MoH’s Preventive Health Department, said that the real number could be tens of thousands higher because many people will either be treating themselves at home without declaring, or do not have any symptoms.

Hanoi is forecast to reach the peak of infection numbers in mid-March and health experts forecast that, as a result, local demand for relevant medicines will continue to hike this month.