He asked the Ministry of Health to give instructions and guidance to immediately streamline administrative procedures 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.

A COVID-19 drug containing the active substance Molnupiravir sold at a drugstore.

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 Covid-19 drugs.

Earlier, local media reported that when the Covid-19 medications containing the active substance Molnupiravir 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.

Bac Giang develops urban and residential areas, ensures provincial planning, saves resources

(BGO) – Bac Giang province has high population growth together with huge housing demand due to attraction of many groups and businesses to invest to the industrial parks and clusters. Thus, the province has established several new urban and residential areas. In the future, many localities will construct more urban and residential areas, which supplies to real estate market (REM). However, the development must ensure the provincial plan.

SEA Games 31: No quarantine planned for int’l sport delegations, reporters

International sport delegations and reporters attending the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) will not be quarantined even if Covid-19 cases are found, the organising committee’s healthcare and anti-doping sub-committee said at a press conference on February 28.                                                                         

Number of enterprises entering and resuming operation soars 46.2 percent in two months

The number of newly established enterprises and enterprises resuming operation increased by 46.2 percent in the first two months of this year, as announced by the General Statistics Office (GSO) on February 28.

Vietnam to receive mRNA vaccine technology transfer from WHO training hub

Vietnam is among the five countries newly selected to receive mRNA vaccine technology transfer from a global biomanufacturing training hub established by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in South Africa.

Bac Giang covers third Covid-19 vaccine shot to 90.7 percent of adult population

(BGO) – Completing the Urgent Spring Vaccination Campaign in 2022 (from January 29 to February 28), Bac Giang province covered third Covid-19 vaccine shot to 90.7 percent of adult population (exceeding the target of 86 percent) and entered the list of six leading provinces and cities with highest vaccine coverage nationwide.

Source: NDO/VNA