Demand for cold and flu medicines has risen, particularly in central and northern Vietnam due to a lengthy and prolonged cold spell.
According to the Vietnam Pharmaceutical Companies Association (VNPCA), the representative organization of more than 100 major pharmaceutical companies, the drugs that have recently been in high demand are antibiotics and medicines for flu and fever.
According to a survey carried out by VNPCA in 53 pharmacies, 21 had fluctuating prices.
For instance, 116 home-made drugs and 14 foreign-made medicines sold in Hanoi showed an increase in price rate of 6.2 percent. While16 drugs showed a drop of 3.8 percent.
VNPCA claimed that drug prices would remain stable during and after Tet ( lunar new year), though some would certainly show a price hike due to foreign exchange currency rates and the cost of imported materials.
