Uzbekistan encounters antiviral drug shortage

AKIPRESS.COM - Uzbekistan has encountered shortage of antiviral and anti-inflammatory drugs in local pharmacies this week.
Prices for some drugs soared 3-4 times.
Drugs such as Arbidol, Ergoferon, Lopinavir, Avigan, Hydroxychloroquine that are used in COVID-19 treatment are absent in more than 10 pharmacies in capital.
Pharmacies in Tashkent also lack drugs Azithromycin, Placvenil, Remdevisir, Umifenovir, Favipiravir, which the Ministry of Health advised to use for coronavirus treatment at home.
Paracetamol and aspirin are unavailable either.
Workers of Tashkent pharmacies said that drug shortage has occured this week. The time of next supply of drugs to cover shortage is unknown, they said.
Whole Uzbekistan faces drug shortage of medicines used locally in treatment of coronavirus.
Ergoferon that is named in Uzbekistan as one of the most effective drugs for COVID-19 treatment is absent from pharmacies in Bukhara region, Xabar.uz reports.
Uzbek social media users also express concerns over deficit of antiviral drugs.
One social media user said Arbidol is now sold at $50 after it cost $3 in pharmacies in February.
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev during a video conference on July 14admitted drug shortage problem and ordered to arrange a reserve of medical drugs for 3 months.
"We will give as many drugs as needed. But when drug prices increase, population becomes unsatisfied, so we have to control that. We have these drugs as reserve, but there are difficulties with transportation. Regional prices are different. We need to make reserve and review prices," the President said.