Chinese e-commerce platforms have seen an increase in demand for Indian generic versions of Paxlovid as a result of the severe shortage.
Chinese experts have expressed concern that counterfeit versions of Indian generic medications are flooding the market as a result of the country’s massive COVID epidemic.
According to reports in the local media, the National Health Security Administration of China said on Sunday that Pfizer’s oral medication Paxlovid, which is used to treat Covid-19, could not be included in the list of drugs in the basic medical insurance because the company’s quote was too high.
Chinese e-commerce platforms have seen an increase in demand for Indian generic versions of Paxlovid as a result of the severe shortage.
In recent weeks, at least four generic COVID medications made in India, Primovir, Paxista, Molnunat, and Molnatris, have been listed for sale on Chinese e-commerce platforms. Sixth Tone, a Chinese media outlet, reported, “Primovir and Paxista are both generic versions of Paxlovid, and the other two are generic versions of Molnipiravir.”
It stated that although the Indian authorities appear to have approved all four drugs for emergency use, their use in China is prohibited.
Sixth Tone was informed by Beijing Memorial Pharmaceutical CEO He Xiaobing that India is the only country from which we can acquire COVID medications that are dependable, reasonably priced, and guaranteed to have a therapeutic effect.
However, illegal organizations that produce counterfeit drugs took advantage of the high demand. He stated, “This will severely impact the treatment of patients.”
Due to the high costs of drug supply, which were controlled by multinational pharmaceutical giants, China’s health system, which serves 1.4 billion people, is under strain.
India has been convincing China to allow its pharmaceutical products in order to cut costs for Chinese citizens and close the huge trade gap between the two nations.
In the past, Indian cancer drugs were well-known for their effectiveness and affordability.
A Chinese film titled Dying to Survive, which featured cancer patients surviving on illegally imported Indian drugs, was successful in China due to their popularity.
