While COVID-19 infections are spreading again in China recently, ordinary pharmacies continue to face difficulties in obtaining and selling antiviral treatments.

According to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today (August 5), an analysis of respiratory patient specimens from hospitals nationwide in late last month showed that the COVID-19 positivity rate exceeded 20%, making it the highest among respiratory viruses.

Local medical circles predict that COVID-19 infections will further increase over the next one to two weeks.

However, it remains very difficult for patients to obtain appropriate treatments in a timely manner.

Currently, to purchase COVID-19 treatments in China, patients must visit a hospital in person to get a prescription or use official online direct-sales pharmacies.

The problem is that even though oral treatments must be taken in the early stages of symptoms, online purchases can take up to five days for delivery, which could diminish the treatment's effectiveness.

The reason sales at neighborhood pharmacies are blocked is that even though the treatments have received official approval, most regions still enforce the strict sales regulations established during the pandemic lockdowns in 2022.

Some pharmacies recommend flu treatments instead of COVID-19 medications, but experts warn that the two drugs are completely different and cannot be substituted.

The local pharmaceutical industry pointed out, "Even after COVID-19 has entered an endemic phase, millions of patients are expected to occur every year," adding, "More than half of the patients are likely to use medications that do not match their symptoms."

(Photo: Yonhap News)