The request was made after a news article reported that several drugs containing molnupiravir and favipiravir, antiviral substances that are still in clinical trials for COVID-19 treatment, are now being sold on social media and other online platforms. The medicines have not been licensed for circulation in the country.

The sale and purchase of unapproved drugs is a serious violation of the Law on Pharmacy, posing a threat to people’s health, pandemic prevention and control, as well as increasing the risk of counterfeit and smuggled medicines. 

To ensure the safety of users and deal with violations of the law in the testing and circulation of drugs for Covid-19, the Drug Administration of Vietnam has asked HCM City authorities to urgently inspect the distribution and use of Molnupiravir and handle violations to prevent illegal trade of the drug. If criminal signs are detected, the Department of Health will transfer the case to the police.

Interfering with dissemination of Vietnam's national anthem is illegal

Leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism have worked with relevant agencies on the incident that the sound of the Vietnamese national anthem in the football match between the national football team of Vietnam and Laos within the framework of the AFF Cup 2020 on December 6 was interrupted on some digital platforms.

This act was confirmed to be illegal. The law of Vietnam stipulates that it is strictly forbidden for any organization or individual, in any form, to prevent or obstruct the dissemination of Vietnam's national anthem directly or indirectly.

Six metro train carriages arrive in HCM City

Six carriages for two metro trains of the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien line in HCM City docked at Khanh Hoi port, District 4, on the morning of December 7 nearly 20 days after they left Japan on November 20. These six carriages will be transported to Long Binh depot (Thu Duc city) on December 10 and 13 for assembly. Each carriage is 21 m long, nearly 4 m wide, 3 m high, and weighs 37 tons.

Number of severe Covid-19 cases in North rises, 500 ICU beds prepared

Responding to the rapidly increasing number of severe Covid-19 cases in the North, the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases has been assigned by the Ministry of Health to prepare 500 ICU beds.

The hospital’s deputy director Nguyen Trung Trung said that since the Covid-19 epidemic broke out, the hospital has only treated severe cases of Covid-19. Currently, the facility has more than 100 Covid-19 patients with severe lung damage who need support from ventilators, HFNC or ECMO.

VND76,000 package to consolidate Vietnam healthcare system proposed

"Strengthening the healthcare system, especially grassroots and preventive medicine, with a package of VND76,000 billion must be a top priority,” according to the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences.

Bui Quang Tuan, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics, who represented the research team of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, said the package is based on the report of the Ministry of Health on expenditures to respond to the pandemic, including six categories. They are spending on epidemic prevention, support for civil defense forces, police and army, supporting infected people under quarantine (building field hospitals, isolation centers, treatment) totaling about VND14,000 billion; spending on community screening tests, buying vaccines of about VND32,000 billion; spending on vaccine research and medicines of about VND 8.8 billion; and spending for epidemic prevention and treatment of Covid-19 patients of about VND18,500 billion.

Vietnam needs VND3,450 billion of foreign aid to deal with consequences of landmines

Statistics of the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs show that since 1975 bombs and mines left from the war killed 40,000 people and injured 60,000 others, most of whom were working age and children.

During the period 2010 - 2020, Vietnam mobilized more than $95 million of non-refundable aid, contributing about 1/6 of the cost of bomb and mine disarming over 10 years.

In the coming time, Vietnam needs to mobilize foreign aid of about VND 3,450 billion, accounting for 16% of the total budget for disarming bombs and mines, said Colonel Nguyen Hanh Phuc, deputy general director of the Vietnam National Mine Action Center (VNMAC).

The area contaminated with landmines in Vietnam is about 5.6 million hectares, equal to 17.1% of the land area.

Dang Quoc Toan named spokesman for HCMC

Dang Quoc Toan, Chief of Office of the HCM City People's Committee, has been assigned to manage all activities of the Office and is the spokesman for the city’s government.

Toan, born in 1977, was appointed Chief of Office of HCMC People's Committee in October 2021 when he was the Party Secretary of District 10. He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Foreign Economic Relations.

From December 2012 to May 2016, he was Secretary of the 10th Central Committee of the Communist Youth Union. From May 2016 to October 2021, he was Secretary of the District 10 Party Committee.

PV

VIETNAM NEWS HEADLINES DECEMBER 8

All adults in 8/63 provinces in Vietnam fully vaccinated