Ensuring adequate supply of medicines for disease prevention and control during the flood season in Vietnam

Ensuring adequate supply of medicines for disease prevention and control during the flood season in Vietnam (Image from the internet)

On September 6, 2024, the Drug Administration of Vietnam - Ministry of Health of Vietnam issued Official Dispatch 3006/QLD-KD to the Departments of Health of provinces and cities, and pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers regarding the assurance of medicine supply during the flood season.

Ensuring adequate supply of medicines for disease prevention and control during the flood season in Vietnam

To ensure sufficient supply of medicines for the prevention and control of diseases that may arise during the storm and flood season such as conjunctivitis, dengue fever, diarrhea, skin diseases..., the Drug Administration of Vietnam proposes:

(1) The Department of Health urgently directs:

- Pharmaceutical manufacturing, trading, and importing establishments located in the area to have a plan to reserve and promptly supply enough medicines for treatment needs, especially ensuring the quantity of medicines for disease prevention and control as per diagnostic and treatment guidelines and other guidelines of the Ministry of Health of Vietnam; avoiding shortages and sudden price increases.

- Medical establishments in the area to actively compile a list of essential medicines for the people, promptly plan, place orders, and supplement reserves to ensure adequate medicines for health situations affected by storms, floods, and epidemics.

Additionally, the Department of Health promptly reports to the Ministry of Health of Vietnam (Drug Administration, Planning and Finance Department) in case of potential medicine shortages for disease prevention and treatment that may arise post-floods in the area.

(2) Pharmaceutical manufacturing, trading, and importing establishments must prepare quality medicines at reasonable prices to prioritize full and prompt supply for disease prevention and control needs.

The Drug Administration of Vietnam will prioritize and consider resolving according to regulations the import orders of medicines without marketing authorization to meet urgent needs in disease prevention and control, disaster recovery, and disaster response.

The Ministry of Health of Vietnam's request for proactive implementation of health work to respond to No. 3 typhoon and floods in Vietnam

At Official Telegram 1101/CD-BYT dated September 5, 2024, the Ministry of Health of Vietnam requires proactive implementation of health work to respond to No. 3 typhoon and floods.

To proactively respond to No. 3 typhoon and the flood situation, the Ministry of Health of Vietnam requires the Departments of Health of provinces and cities in the Northern and Central regions; units under the Ministry of Health of Vietnam in the Northern and Central regions to urgently implement the following:

- Strictly implement the directives of the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam; the National Civil Defense Steering Committee; the Civil Defense Command of the localities and the Ministry of Health of Vietnam on proactive response to storms and floods, ensuring the safety of the people.

- Closely monitor the storm's developments, rain, floods, flash flood warnings, landslides, and land subsidence due to floods or water flow as announced by the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting; proactively implement work on storm and flood prevention and response. Review the unit's storm and flood prevention plans and solutions to ensure they are appropriate to the local practical demands.

- Organize specialized and emergency shifts 24/24; ready to receive and provide emergency treatment for victims of the rain and floods; ensure no interruption in emergency services and treatment to the people; ensure sufficient supply of essential medicines for the people, promptly supplement reserves of medicines, chemicals, and supplies reserved for disaster prevention and search and rescue. Implement plans to protect health facilities in regions at risk of being affected by floods; actively evacuate health facilities in low-lying areas at risk of being flooded, flash floods, and landslides.

- Organize environmental sanitation, disease prevention, and food safety due to storms and floods; arrange and stabilize medical examination and treatment facilities, ensuring medical examination and treatment for the people post-floods.

- Report on damage situations, needs, and local assurance capabilities, and propose support when exceeding local capabilities to the Ministry of Health of Vietnam (via the Planning and Finance Department) for synthesis and report to the competent authority for a decision.

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