Private clinics to be allowed to prescribe molnupiravir for Covid-19

Public Health Ministry staff check bottles of the antiviral drug molnupiravir at a Zuellig Pharma warehouse in Samut Prakan’s Bang Sao Thong district, before distributing the medication to groups of high-risk Covid-19 patients. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)
Open public Health Ministry employees check bottles from the antiviral drug molnupiravir at a Zuellig Pharma warehouse in Samut Prakan’s Bang Sao Thong district, before distributing the medication to groups of high-risk Covid-19 patients. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)

The Public Health Ministry plans to permit private clinics to purchase and prescribe the antiviral medication molnupiravir for Covid-19 sufferers, as private hospitals currently do.

Health permanent secretary Kiattiphum Wongrajit mentioned on Monday since the ministry has set a target in order to declare Covid-19 an endemic disease, it offers distributed molnupiravir in order to private hospitals to treat Covid-19 patients free of charge. Private hospitals could also purchase extra antiviral medication to treat patients.  

To get more individuals access to antiviral medication, the ministry’s crisis operations centre decided to allow private centers to also purchase molnupiravir to treat individuals, he said.

“The meeting assigned  health deputy permanent secretary Doctor Thongchai Keeratihatthayakon plus Dr Thares Krasanaiyarawiwong, director-general of the Division of Health Company Suppport, to work out the particular framework for private clinics [to purchase molnupiravir]. The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation will acquire many medication.

“In the future, drugstores maybe be allowed to prescribe molnupirvir by following the Department of Medical Services’ criteria, the fact that antiviral medication end up being prescribed to sufferers in the yellow category  [moderate symptoms] and those with more serious symptoms, ”  Dr Kiattiphum said.  

Presently, three companies were registered with the As well as Drug Administration to supply molnupiravir, he added.

Doctor Kiattiphum said it had been not necessary for all contaminated patients to be give antiviral medication. Sufferers showing only mild symptoms should be medication based on their symptoms, or be given fah talai jone (green chiretta).

Antiviral medication like favipiravir, molnupiravir, remdesivir, paxlovid or LAAB antibodies (AstraZeneca’s Evusheld) that would arrive in Asia next week would be recommended by doctors based on the severity of symptoms and indications established by the Department associated with Medical Services, the health permanent secretary stated.

These antiviral medicines should be prescribed by medical practitioners only, he said. People trying purchase it themselves may get fake medication that could put their life at risk, he cautioned.