As Covid-19 infections soar across China, a shortage of antiviral medicine appears to be propelling people to turn to the black market.  Even though the Indian medicines have not been approved by the Chinese government and selling them is a punishable offense, residents have turned to the black market for generic medicines.

Online portal named Tencent News stated that four kinds of generic anti-Covid drugs from India are being sold illegally in the Chinese market – under the brand names Primovir, Paxista, Molnunat, and Molnatris, the report added. 

According to The South China Morning Post, China approved two Covid-19 antivirals this year – Pfizer’s Paxlovid and Azvudine, an HIV drug from Chinese firm Genuine Biotech. But both are only available in certain hospitals.

Their limited supply and steep price have driven many Chinese to opt for cheaper but illegally imported generic drugs from India. Topics like “anti-Covid Indian generic drugs sold at 1,000 yuan (US$144) per box” have been trending on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, with users exchanging messages and tips on ways to get hold of the medicines, the report stated.

While Paxlovid is priced at 2,980 yuan (Rs 35432 approx.) per box, a box of Indian-made drugs can be bought for 530 (Rs 6300 approx.) to 1,600 yuan (Rs 19000 approx.), SCMP reported citing an online portal Tencent News. 

Primovir and Paxista are generic versions of Paxlovid, while Molnunat and Molnatris are generics for Merck’s molnupiravir, it added. 

China’s sudden U-turn from its harsh zero-COVID policy in early December has led to a surge in coronavirus cases, with Zhejiang – an industrial province near Shanghai – recording a million new daily infections, as per Reuters.

According to the Hong Kong-based newspaper, some e-commerce platforms are using “euphemistic labels to bypass keyword censorship” to sell these generic medicines to avoid punishment by Chinese authorities.

A Weibo user wrote on Sunday that she was buying generic Paxlovid made in Bangladesh as she had an elderly relative and could not access the medicine, Bloomberg reported.

Another Weibo user demanded easier availability of these drugs. The user also reportedly shared a picture of an advertisement for Indian generic versions of Paxlovid that can be delivered in two to three weeks.

As per Shanghai-based The Paper, over 50,000 boxes of foreign generic antivirals have been sold since the initial relaxation of zero-COVID norms in November.

Public health experts have warned people against using drugs procured through illegal channels.

“Marketing queries are coming to [Indian] drug makers asking for quotes on ibuprofen and paracetamol,” Sahil Munjal, chairman of the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil), told Reuters last week.

India would step up the production and export of fever medicines to China, he said.

China gave emergency approval to Paxlovid in February, but it is not clear how much has been imported since then or how widely hospitals are using the drug, which is currently covered by medical insurance.

Earlier this month, China relaxed the rules to allow retail sales of Paxlovid and also authorised internet healthcare service providers to offer consultations and prescribe drugs, as Covid-19 patients swamped hospitals and clinics.

Paxlovid stocks were sold out within an hour on the mobile app of 111. inc, one such healthcare platform, as people rushed to get a box for 2,980 yuan.

Image source: AFP