Hand, foot and mouth disease epidemic increases, Ho Chi Minh City is about to run out of treatment drugs

- Regarding the supply of drugs to treat hand, foot and mouth disease, although it has been prepared, the city's stockpile of drugs is not expected to be enough to meet the rapidly evolving epidemic situation and the city always has to receive seriously ill patients from the provinces.

The Department of Health of Ho Chi Minh City has just reported to the Ministry of Health on the situation of hand, foot and mouth disease in the area.

According to the Department of Health, on the supply of medicines to treat hand, foot and mouth disease, right from the early stage of the epidemic, the city's Department of Health has implemented the directions of the Ministry of Health and the Drug Administration of Vietnam to ensure the supply of drugs for the treatment of hand, foot and mouth disease. Medical examination and treatment establishments have also actively carried out procurement activities, approached importers and distributors to ensure drug reserves.

Despite preparations, the city's drug reserves are not expected to be enough to cope with the rapidly evolving epidemic situation and the city always has to receive seriously ill patients from the provinces.

Specifically, the number of IVIG drugs used per day increased from 80-150 vials (from July 7, 2023 to July 13, 2023), increased to approximately 200 vials (from July 13, 2023 onward) and showed no sign of stopping. While the IVIG inventory at hospitals is currently about 2,400 vials, it is expected that the next batch of imported IVIG will be available until the end of August 2023 (limited quantity).

Therefore, the city's health sector is at risk of IVIG deficiency in the period from the end of July 2023 onward (if the number of severe pediatric patients remains at the current stage) or may end earlier if the situation continues to increase rapidly.

“In the context of the potential shortage of IVIG, the Department of Health issued Official Letter No. 5094/SYT-NVY dated June 27, 2023 to be proactive in using IVIG to treat hand, foot and mouth disease. According to the consensus of experts, IVIG is prescribed at dose 1 for the group of patients with hand, foot and mouth disease, grade 2b, group 2, grade 3 or grade 4. Dose 2 is indicated when the patient's stage is more severe or symptoms of grade 3 have not improved, "said the city's Department of Health.

Currently, Ho Chi Minh City focuses its efforts on raising people's awareness of the risk of disease outbreaks and providing knowledge on prevention and control of infectious diseases. In the coming time, the city's health sector will continue to maintain activities to monitor the situation of diseases and pathogens.

In terms of ensuring adequate supply of IVIG drugs, the Department of Health continues to closely monitor the situation of drug use and supply to assess the situation, propose further interventions, continue to update information from suppliers and report closely to the Drug Administration.

“The Department of Health also proposes to the Ministry of Health to assign the last-line hospitals of some provinces/cities capable of collecting and treating hand, foot and mouth diseases such as Ca Mau Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Can Tho Children's Hospital, Dong Nai Children's Hospital, etc. to receive and treat patients from neighboring provinces to ensure that severe cases are treated early and transfer is safe and effective,” the Department of Health emphasized.

In addition, the Department of Health also proposed the Drug Administration to soon approve the import orders of IVIG drugs, if any, and suggested the Ministry of Health to soon have directions and solutions to ensure the supply of hand, foot and mouth treatment drugs for the southern provinces.

*SOURCE: https://laodong.vn/y-te/dich-benh-tay-chan-mieng-tang-tp-ho-chi-minh-sap-het-thuoc-dieu-tri-1219137.ldo