Mr. Cao Minh Quang, Director of the Department of Drug Management in Vietnam, announced that the Department has negotiated with the pharmaceutical company Roche, and it is possible that three Vietnamese pharmaceutical companies will begin producing Tamiflu for the treatment of influenza by the end of the year.
During the meeting of the Steering Committee for the Prevention of SARS and Other Dangerous Epidemics held today, October 26, Mr. Quang stated that the national drug reserve needs to have 25 million doses of Tamiflu, sufficient to treat one-quarter of those infected with H5N1 in the event of an influenza pandemic. According to estimates, if a pandemic occurs, about 10% of Vietnam’s population could be infected with H5N1.
Professor Tran Quy, Director of Bach Mai Hospital, along with many other medical experts, emphasized that if an outbreak occurs, patients should receive immediate treatment at the location where they are identified, and efforts should be made to contain the outbreak swiftly. The experts also suggested that healthcare facilities and relevant agencies must work closely together in epidemic prevention. They further advised the Ministry of Health to implement protective measures for those involved in epidemic control, such as vaccinations, provision of protective equipment, and preventive medications.
Healthcare experts also recommended reviewing the H5N1 treatment protocols that have been used in the past and updating them in line with global and regional treatment guidelines to improve Vietnam’s treatment protocols. They proposed establishing research units focused on treatment and epidemiology.
Members of the Steering Committee and experts stressed the importance of information dissemination in preventing avian influenza outbreaks. The subcommittee for epidemic prevention communication indicated that it will provide updates on the flu situation, preventive measures on the Ministry of Health’s website, and establish a public communication network, including a hotline for informing and guiding the public in the event of an outbreak.
