An additional 150,000 molnupiravir anti-viral pills have been allocated to the National Health Security Office (NHSO) for distribution to Covid-19 patients.
Dr Jadej Thammatacharee, secretary-general of the NHSO, said molnupiravir will be prescribed in line with guidelines of the Public Health Ministry’s Department of Medical Services.
He said molnupiravir will be given to Covid-19 patients with underlying health conditions and those with mild or moderate lung inflammation, but it will not be prescribed to pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Groups to be given the antiviral drug include the elderly, people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, and HIV-positive people with low cell counts.
According to Dr Jadej, molnupiravir works by disrupting the virus’s reproduction and reducing severe symptoms. Its use has been approved by the Public Health Ministry’s emergency operation centre and the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.
Assoc Prof Dr Chanchai Sittipunt, director of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, yesterday urged Covid-19 patients to not take anti-viral medication unless prescribed by doctors. He was responding to reports of people buying the drugs for their own use.