The two bottles of "electrolyte water" sold 336 yuan, and the family members questioned the doctor to get the deduction!what happened?

Recently, some media reports said that in Xi'an, Shaanxi, a patient's family member Chen went to the pharmacy to buy two bottles of "electrolyte water" with a unit price of 168 yuan. Mr. Chen believes that this is just two bottles of "ordinary water", and the price is too expensive. He questioned that the doctor was taking a commission and eating a rebate in disguise.

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Is this really the case?

After verification, the reporter found that the two bottles of water purchased by Mr. Chen were not "electrolyte water", but "special medical use electrolyte formula".

Special medical use electrolyte formula foods are "Food for Special Medical". This kind of food is to meet the special needs of nutrients or diets for people with restrictions, digestion and absorption, metabolic disorders or specific diseases. Specialized formula for formulating formula.

According to the "Food Special Medicine Formulas Food Clinical Application Specifications", such products must be eaten separately or with other foods under the guidance of doctors or clinical nutritionists.

In short, the two bottles of "water" purchased by Mr. Chen are not ordinary water, nor the so -called electrolyte drinks.

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The reporter's inquiry information found that several special medical use electrolyte recipe foods sold on the market are generally 400ml, and the main components are carbohydrates 12.5g/100ml (of which malt paste, glucose and fructose accounted for 80%, 14%and 14%, and respectively. 6%), sodium 25mmo/L, potassium 20mmol/L, magnesium 3mmol/L, phosphorus 6mmol/L, chlorine 15mmol/L, single bottle recommended retail price is more than 200 yuan.

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So why do this solution dozens of times more expensive than electrolytes on the market?

"Just like formula milk powder is not ordinary food, the price is very expensive. Special medical use formula foods have special uses, not ordinary foods." Deputy chief pharmacist of Chen Qun, the head of the hospital for hospitalization pharmacy and intravenous drug configuration center A reporter from the Science and Technology Daily, "There are two main reasons why the price is expensive: one is that there are few manufacturers, because such product applications are special and fixed. Correspondingly, the manufacturers are relatively small; The product has strict formulas, which requires special processes to meet the distribution ratio, so the cost is relatively high, and the price is much higher. "

Chen Qun added that because the electrolytic formula foods of special medical purposes are relatively small, general hospitals may not have reserves.

It should be noted that the electrolyte formula food of special medical purposes cannot be replaced by medical electrolyte solutions, electrolyte water and other liquids.

Chen Qun explained that the electrolyte formula food of special medical purposes is a special medical food; medical electrolyte solution is a type of injection drugs used clinically, and electrolyte water usually refers to functional beverages.

"Although they all contain 'electrolyte', they are completely different. They cannot confuse these three completely different concepts because they all contain the words 'electrolyte'." Chen Qun emphasized.

Experts believe that the patient's family members believe that the electrolytic formula of special medical purposes is too high, which may be confused with electrolyte water.

Clinically, medical electrolyte solutions are mostly used in patients with electrolyte disorders or risk of disorder, such as diarrhea and burns. Generally speaking, there are three main specifications in clinical electrolyte solutions: 100ml, 250ml, and 500ml. The electrolyte solution used in injection has strict requirements for concentration, osmotic pressure, pH value, color, and sterile state, but the price is cheaper, generally only a few yuan.

As for electrolyte drinks, Chen Qun said that such functional drinks are mainly used to supplement some minerals caused by a large amount of sweating. The electrolyte concentration in this type of drink is not as precise as electrolyte formula foods for special medical purposes. It is not so strict, and in order to pursue the taste, drinks will add some sweeteners, vitamins, pigments and other substances to cater to consumer preferences.

"In short, the electrolyte formula food of special medical purposes is not equal to electrolyte drinks. It is a formula for formulas for special groups. It has strict ingredients and ratio requirements and cannot be replaced by other solutions. Electrolyte drinks cannot meet clinical needs." Chen Qun said.

Source: Science and Technology Daily/Reporter On behalf of Xiao Pei

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