Influenza surveillance, timely supply of treatment drugs

The Drug Administration of Vietnam recommends that provincial and municipal health departments closely monitor the epidemic situation and the demand for flu treatment drugs; hospitals ensure timely supply and avoid overuse of antiviral drugs in flu treatment.

Increased demand for antiviral drugs to treat influenza

Faced with the complicated developments of influenza in many localities in the north, the demand for flu treatment drugs, especially antiviral drugs, tends to increase, a representative of the Drug Administration of Vietnam ( Ministry of Health ) said that they have asked production and import units to ensure drug supply for diseases that may occur in the winter and spring.

Hospitals ensure adequate supply of medicine to treat flu patients

The provincial and municipal health departments are requested to continue directing local medical facilities to closely monitor the epidemic situation and the demand for flu treatment drugs. Strengthen inspection and supervision of drug supply and use, ensure that drugs are distributed appropriately, and avoid speculation and unreasonable price increases.

Hospitals under the Ministry of Health need to proactively plan for stockpiling and purchasing influenza treatment drugs, especially antiviral drugs, to ensure timely supply of influenza treatment drugs. Use drugs appropriately and avoid overusing antiviral drugs to limit the risk of drug resistance.

Monitoring prescription and use of antiviral drugs

Previously, from the end of December 2024, assessing the increase in epidemics in the winter - spring, the leaders of the Drug Administration Department sent an official dispatch requesting the health departments of provinces and cities to direct hospitals and disease control centers to urgently plan and purchase drugs, absolutely not to let there be a shortage of drugs for medical examination and treatment. In particular, focusing on ensuring the readiness to supply enough drugs for emergency work; drugs to prevent epidemics, especially drugs to treat diseases that often occur in the winter - spring such as: influenza A, hand, foot and mouth disease, measles, rubella, diarrhea caused by rotavirus, diseases transmitted through the respiratory and digestive tracts. At the same time, ensuring quality and reasonable prices, not allowing sudden increases in drug prices.

The Drug Administration also requires drug manufacturing and importing establishments to increase supply, develop and implement drug supply plans to serve medical examination and treatment needs, promptly supply enough drugs when receiving orders from medical examination and treatment establishments, and not allow speculation to increase drug prices. In case of problems with supply, units should report to the Drug Administration for guidance.

The head of the medical examination and treatment facility is responsible for ensuring adequate supply of quality drugs to meet emergency, medical examination and treatment needs.

Regarding the prescription of drugs to treat influenza, a representative of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment (Ministry of Health) said that antiviral drugs to treat influenza are drugs prescribed after a doctor has specifically assessed the case. Hospitals need to strengthen supervision of prescriptions and use of antiviral drugs in the treatment of influenza. People infected or suspected of being infected with influenza should not use drugs without a doctor's prescription, as this increases the risk of drug resistance and causes unwanted side effects.

Localities need to strengthen supervision and strictly handle any discovery of pharmacies violating prescription drug regulations (selling prescription drugs without a prescription).

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bo-y-te-giam-sat-dich-cum-cung-ung-kip-thoi-thuoc-dieu-tri-185250209205756509.htm