Inspectors from the Hà Nội People’s Committee and municipal Department of Health check coronavirus prevention and control at the Đống Đa General Hospital.

Hospitals must ensure sufficient medicines and equipment for isolation work and treatment for the acute respiratory illness caused by coronavirus.

The request was included in an urgent letter which the Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV) under the Ministry of Health (MoH) sent to provincial and municipal departments of health, hospitals and medicine-importing enterprises on Wednesday.

In the letter, the DAV also asked concerned organisations to ensure price stabilisation in treatment.

Hospitals must prepare and plan for treatment if the epidemic spreads. Lists of medicines should be reviewed and supplemented with necessary ones.

Hospitals should also remain updated with the latest guidance on diagnosis and treatment from the MoH.

Medicine manufacturers must prepare necessary materials and chemical substances to produce medicines as required.

Medicine-importing enterprises must search for suppliers to ensure enough medicines for hospitals if needed.

The DAV will consider issuing quick import or circulation certificates for concerned enterprises if necessary.