Chinese nations have now turned to the black market for generic Covid-19 drugs as the country is dealing with an unprecedented outbreak with limited supplies of approved antiviral.

Massive surge in COVID infection has forced Chinese residents to turn to the black market for India-made drugs. According to the South China Morning Post, the Chinese are now opting for generic drugs from India, which are being sold illegally in the Chinese market under the brand names Primovir, Paxista, Molnunat, and Molnatris. This as China faces huge shortage of medicines like Paracetamol and Ibuprofen.

The limited supply and steep prices of China’s Covid drugs have forced many to opt for cheaper but illegally imported generic drugs from India.

China approved two Covid-19 antivirals this year – Pfizer’s Paxlovid and Azvudine, an HIV drug from Chinese firm Genuine Biotech. Both are available only in certain hospitals. The limited supply and steep price have forced many to opt for cheaper but illegally imported generic drugs from India.

However, these generic drugs don’t have the approval of the Chinese government and selling them is a punishable offence.

Topics like “anti-Covid Indian generic drugs sold at 1,000 yuan (US$144) per box” have been trending on Chinese social media platform Weibo, with users exchanging messages and tips on ways to get hold of the medicines, reported the South China Morning Post.

While Paxlovid costs 2,980 yuan per box, one box of India-made drugs can be bought for 530 to 1,600 yuan, according to online portal Tencent News.

Public health experts and doctors in China have warned of the potential risks of these medicines and have urged people not to buy them illegally.

Beijing is expected to start distributing Paxlovid and Azvudine to community hospitals, according to state media reports on Monday.

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