In recent days, major pharmacies in Ho Chi Minh City, along with numerous sales representatives, doctors, and pharmacists, have been inundated with urgent direct and indirect orders.
On the morning of October 26, 2005, at NT pharmacy, one of the largest on Hai Ba Trung Street (HBT) in Ho Chi Minh City, the young woman at the counter immediately responded when I mentioned Tamiflu: “What a pity! You’re just a minute too late. The customer for the last three boxes just stepped out to their car.” Just as I hurried toward her, a man in formal attire, with several boxes of Tamiflu tucked under his arm, revved up his motorcycle and sped off.
It seemed he was afraid I would ask to share the medication. The older pharmacist who stepped out from the back appeared sympathetic: “Write down your mobile number. I’ll notify you as soon as we have stock. Oh, but you need to make a deposit of at least 50%.” After mentioning that the previous customer had made a deposit of 500,000 VND, she added that the price of Tamiflu had risen from 450,000 VND for a box of 10 tablets to 600,000 VND. “Some people are even willing to pay a million VND, but I won’t sell without a deposit…”
At the neighboring pharmacy on HBT, the pharmacist laughed at my serious expression: “You’re not the first this morning….” Before finishing her sentence, she handed me a piece of paper to jot down my phone number and also quoted 600,000 VND per box, though she couldn’t promise a callback in one or two days due to it being “out of stock.”
The owner of the next pharmacy shook his head as soon as he heard my inquiry about buying Tamiflu and advised me to go directly to the hospital if I was ill. However, at MC pharmacy, which was bustling with customers and stocked with so many medications that even hospitals sourced specialty drugs from there, the pharmacist nodded when I asked for Tamiflu and quoted a price of only 450,000 VND. Another pharmacist next to her quickly corrected, “It’s actually 480,000 VND. The price has gone up.” After saying this, she walked into the storage area at the back.
As I was checking my wallet to pay, she unexpectedly reappeared: “We’re out of stock. Please come back another time.” Just then, more customers rushed in asking for Tamiflu. Some offered cash for a deposit, but the pharmacist shook her head: “Please come back later. The distribution company is very limited. Many people want to make deposits, but I fear we won’t have enough stock…”
At the bike parking area, this customer kept asking me if I knew of anywhere else selling Tamiflu! He mentioned he had been “assigned” to procure 15 boxes for the entire board of directors of a trading company in District 3 and was willing to “gift” me a box if I could point him to the right place. Nowadays, not only individuals and families but also several companies and organizations are on the hunt for this specialty flu medication. Supply is barely meeting demand, as small pharmacies have no stock, and even large pharmacies lack sufficient inventory to sell.
A pharmacist from a pharmacy on HBT explained: “This medication is distributed by Diathemlm Company, but they only deliver three boxes at a time. Even wealthy customers offering double or triple the price still can’t find stock to sell.” On the evening of October 26, 2005, I received a message from HBT pharmacy stating: “We have 10 boxes of Tamiflu available. If you still want to buy, bring cash immediately, or they’ll be gone. Price is likely 600,000 VND per box.” Nearly 10 other pharmacies where I left my number remained silent as they had not received any stock.
These days, it’s difficult to find Tamiflu in the open market. Many people are turning to their network of doctors and pharmacists in hospitals. The hunt for Tamiflu in the free market is still intense and may become even more heated.
QUOC VIET
