After distribution problems with the corona drug Paxlovid, Minister of Health Johannes Rauch (Greens) announced that the tablets should be available in pharmacies across the board from Monday. But the reality looks very different: now each pharmacy, according to Rauch’s orders, is allowed to stock only one pack of Paxlovid, the Vienna Medical Association criticized over lunch. This means that there are only 300 packs in stock in the metropolis of Vienna.
“This is a deception of patients and completely irresponsible,” emphasizes Naghme Kamaleyan-Schmied, vice president of the Medical Association of Vienna, who himself runs a health insurance practice in Vienna.
Effective medication to prevent serious Covid cures
The GP points out that it is currently the largest corona wave the country has ever experienced, which indicates peak values in wastewater monitoring. Paxlovid is an effective drug to prevent severe Covid illness, especially in people at risk.
“Delivery is constantly postponed”
A local APA inspection showed that Paxlovid was not available at the pharmacy on Naschmarkt in Vienna-Mariahilf on Monday morning.
Initially it was said that the delivery would arrive in a few days, but that kept getting postponed, it was explained. Pharmacies were asked to stock only one pack and return the remaining surplus to drug wholesalers for redistribution. There are also supply bottlenecks for antibiotics, which are just as important.
“Shortages occur when demand exceeds supply. That is also the case in this case with Paxlovid,” the Austrian Chamber of Pharmacists said on Monday. “Regionally different infection rates and different medical prescribing practices have led to greater regional bottlenecks. “It is all the more important that the federal government has promised new deliveries and that we can hopefully expect new goods in pharmacies in the coming weeks,” it was emphasized.
More than 41,000 Covid absenteeism cases in the past week
Last week (week 49), 41,690 ÖGK insured people were on sick leave due to Covid-19. The week before, 38,996 people were affected, about 2,00 fewer. In addition, in week 49 there were 90,405 sick days due to other flu-like infections and 568 due to “real flu” (influenza), data from the Austrian Health Insurance Fund showed on Monday.
“The number of people suffering from the real flu and also from Covid continues to rise,” explains ÖGK chief physician Andreas Krauter. He recommended wearing a mask in crowds, disinfecting hands, maintaining distance and regular ventilation, as well as vaccinations against influenza and Covid to prevent serious illnesses and secondary diseases.
Doctors criticize the spread of flu vaccinations
There was also renewed criticism from the medical association over similar problems with the distribution of the flu vaccination. The vaccine would be available in doctors’ offices for the first time this season at a discount on prescription costs, but it is also out of stock in some places, meaning people who want to get vaccinated are buying it at a higher price from pharmacies.
“It is completely unacceptable that major supply shortages persist in Vienna due to poor logistics for the flu vaccine. The reason for this is the data chaos, for which only the minister bears full responsibility,” emphasized Kamaleyan-Schmied, who called for free PCR tests for ordinations.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
