Customs seized for the first time a smuggled oral drug for COVID-19. The drug is a new oral drug "Molnupiravir" developed by Merck & Co., which is manufactured and used in India by a sub-factory authorized by the original factory. It is not registered in Hong Kong and cannot be imported into Hong Kong. It is also used in Hong Kong. Preliminary investigations believe that the drug is supplied to nearby areas and has not flowed into Hong Kong.
Cui Junming, president of the Hong Kong Hospital Pharmacists Association, said that the public should pay attention to three main points, including that oral drugs for new coronary pneumonia can only be used to treat mild to moderate confirmed patients, a full course of treatment for a total of 5 days, and parallel imports of drugs in transportation. Problems may occur in the process and affect the efficacy of the drug.
If there are parallel imports into Hong Kong, it is not advisable for members of the public to buy medicines on their own. They should buy medicines under the guidance and supervision of a doctor or a pharmacist.
Customs seized a shipment of smuggled Covid-19 oral drug Molnupiravir, as well as other controlled drugs, and arrested a man involved in the case.
(Photo by Weng Yuhui)
Cui Junming pointed out that the HA has purchased two types of new crown oral drugs, including Merck's Molnupiravir and Pfizer's Paxlovid, which have also been provided free of charge to designated private doctors.
Once "parallel imported" oral drugs flow into Hong Kong, Cui reminds the public to pay attention to three points.
Oral medicines are used to treat mild to moderately diagnosed patients. If moderate to severe patients take oral medicines without a doctor's diagnosis, there is a chance to delay treatment; in addition, because oral medicines require a doctor's prescription or are sold under the supervision of a pharmacist , and need to take a full course of treatment for a total of 5 days. If the patient does not complete the course of treatment, such as taking only 4 days, drug resistance may occur and the treatment may be affected; and the smuggled drugs may have problems during transportation and affect the efficacy of the drug. Patients have the opportunity to "kill the virus" after taking it, and eventually delay treatment or develop drug resistance.
He especially reminded that pregnant women who need to breastfeed and those under the age of 18 should not take the drug.
Customs seized 47,000 smuggled new crown oral drugs for the first time, worth about 500,000