After being approved in February last year, Paxlovid was barely used in China until December, when the government began to lift its strict containment policy, and a wave of COVID infections began to build.
Uttar Pradesh’s supply boom
Chinese officials have acknowledged that the supply of paxlovid is still insufficient to meet demand, even as Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said last week that thousands of courses of the treatment were shipped to the country last year and Millions more were sent in a few weeks.
In a statement, the company said, “Pfizer is actively cooperating with the Chinese authorities and all stakeholders to ensure an adequate supply of Paxlovid in China. We look forward to meeting the COVID-19 treatment needs of Chinese patients and complying with the Chinese government’s guidelines.” Committed to partnering with you.”
China has also approved Merck & Co’s MRK.N COVID antiviral drug to combat the rising death toll and is reviewing a treatment developed by Japan’s Shionogi.
Paxlovid is covered by state insurance – albeit temporarily until the end of March – which means that in theory patients would only need to pay 198 yuan ($29), a tenth of its usual price.
But China does not provide data on how many treatment courses are supplied and where it can be purchased, leading most patients to rely on media reports, word of mouth or even through unofficial channels on the gray market. forced to import through
Those that do manage to find suppliers often pay exorbitant prices, as demand spikes amid a massive wave of COVID-19 infections.
The official Guangzhou Daily reported that patients at the United Family Healthcare Hospital in Guangdong were paying 6,000 yuan ($891) for a health checkup, after which paxlovid cost 2,300 yuan at the hospital.
The hospital did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Health data firm Airfinity estimated in December that China would need 49 million courses of COVID treatment over the next five months, with more than 22 million needed in January alone.
The Pfizer drug can also be bought through online platforms with a prescription for 2,170 yuan, but it usually sells out within seconds.
paxloveid gift
Many others told how they turned to the gray market to buy Paxlovid. Some were looking to treat sick relatives, while others wanted to.
Chen Jun, a resident of China’s southern Hainan province, said he bought Paxlovid from a supplier introduced by a business partner, who said the drug was coming from Hong Kong.
Chen paid 20,000 yuan ($2,972) on January 2 for two boxes for his elderly parents who were suffering from cancer, and said some people had paid double that price.
“You’ll find it cheap when your family members are in need, because there’s nothing better than going to the hospital right now,” he said. “I know people who paid 20,000 yuan for a box of medicine.”
Another buyer, who gave his name as Ray, said he managed to get two boxes from the United States, where supplies are still adequate and a prescription can be obtained after an online consultation.
“It’s very straightforward, they don’t ask questions,” he said. After making the purchase online, he asked a friend there to help him ship it to China.
An analyst at a Chinese securities house, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject, said his boss went so far as to stock up on Paxlovid to gift to clients because it was worth more than a popular, expensive liquor. .
“It’s a better gift than Mutai.”
