Residents are willing to pay above the listed price to purchase Tamiflu.

According to reporters from Dân Việt, when inquiring about Tamiflu 75mg, nearly all pharmacies reported being out of stock. Some stores that still had it available were selling it for between 75,000 to 85,000 VND per capsule, equating to approximately 750,000 to 850,000 VND per box (10 capsules), which is nearly double the official price.

At a pharmacy on Hải Thượng Lãn Ông Street in District 5, staff mentioned the current price is 850,000 VND per box, and only two boxes are left due to limited supply. Meanwhile, at another pharmacy on Ngô Quyền Street in District 10, customers were required to present a doctor’s prescription and were quoted 750,000 VND per box. However, they had to wait about 30 minutes while the store arranged to get stock from another location.

According to data from the Drug Price Lookup website of the Drug Administration under the Ministry of Health, the listed price for a box of Tamiflu 75mg (10 capsules) is only about 450,000 VND, or approximately 44,877 VND per capsule. The significant discrepancy between market prices and official prices raises concerns about speculation and unreasonable price hikes.

Despite the higher prices, Nguyễn Thị Hồng from District 5 decided to buy the medication. She explained, “The symptoms of seasonal flu are very mild, resembling a common cold, so I want to be prepared in case I need it. With the current shortage, if I don’t buy it early, I worry that I won’t be able to find any when I get sick.”

In contrast, Đỗ Thị Minh Anh from Gò Vấp had prepared in advance. “As soon as I heard about the flu outbreak, I went to the nearest pharmacy to buy the medication, so the prices were not as high as they are now.”

Warning Against Self-Medicating with Tamiflu at Home

According to Dr. Trương Hữu Khanh, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Infectious Diseases Association, the trend of people self-medicating with Tamiflu is on the rise. Although this medication can inhibit the flu virus, incorrect usage can lead to dangerous side effects, including mental health issues.

One serious concern with the overuse of Tamiflu is the risk of drug resistance. If the flu virus becomes resistant to Tamiflu, finding alternative medications will become extremely challenging.

Moreover, this medication is most effective when taken early in the course of the illness. If a patient has already had symptoms such as cough or runny nose for 2-3 days before taking the medication, its effectiveness can decrease significantly or even become nonexistent.

Dr. Khanh also cautions that buying medication without a prescription can lead to various risks, such as purchasing counterfeit or substandard drugs, incorrect dosages, or experiencing severe side effects, especially concerning the nervous system. Therefore, if flu symptoms are suspected, individuals should visit a healthcare facility for a proper examination and guidance on medication use.

Dr. Khanh emphasizes that citizens should not rush to buy Tamiflu, as the flu season will eventually pass. The most important thing is to maintain good immune health and detect illness early to respond appropriately. Rather than relying solely on medication, maintaining a balanced diet, getting adequate rest, and practicing preventive measures will better equip the body to combat viruses.

According to the Drug Administration under the Ministry of Health, there is currently a sufficient supply of Oseltamivir-containing medications. For Tamiflu, the importing company reports having over 10,000 boxes in stock and has recently sold over 30,000 boxes to distributors. They plan to import an additional 50,000 boxes, and there are also over 300,000 capsules of Oseltamivir produced domestically. Wholesale prices remain unchanged.