Recipients are 11 hospitals, 12 departments of health in cities and provinces including HCM City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Tra Vinh, Vinh Long, Da Nang, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Soc Trang, Ben Tre, Kien Giang and Hau Giang, and the health division of the Military Medicine Department.

Earlier, 40,000 vials were distributed for Ho Chi Minh City and a number of southern provinces. 

Remdesivir is the first antiviral drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating COVID-19 patients. It has the ability to shorten treatment times and speed up recovery for critically ill patients.

The drug has been approved and authorised for use in approximately 50 countries worldwide. It is now one of the world's leading specialised drugs.

Earlier this month, conglomerate Vingroup had successfully negotiated for 500,000 vials of Remdesivir from Indian pharmaceutical company Cipla under licensing agreement from US-based Gilead Sciences.

The first batch arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCM City on August 5.