Director hails native achievement
The government pharmaceutical organization’s ( GPO ) facility in Pathum Thani has been certified by the WHO Prequalification Programme ( WHO PQ ) to produce the antiretroviral drug Efavirenz.
According to GPO producer Mingkwan Suphanpong, the facility’s certification, which is the first in Thailand and the Asean location to have received WHO PQ documentation, means that all of the Efavirenz capsules produced by the GPO remain on the WHO Prequalified List.
After the GPO submitted an application in 2016, the WHO approved GPO’s demand to place the medication on its record.
When a person is diagnosed with the disease, they are prescribed efavirenz, and it is frequently combined with tenofovir/emtricitabine in adults, adolescents, and kids.
In addition to being used in combination with another antiviral medications as part of an expanded post-exposure treatment regimen, efavirenz is also used to lower the risk of HIV infections in people who are at a high risk.
Dr. Mingkwan said the documentation reflects GPO’s commitment to quality and safety, making sure Thais have access to medicines that are as powerful as the original. The drug also can get registered in other countries, enhancing trade prospects.
According to Dr. Mingkwan, qualification comes after a second inspection conducted in the WHO PQ on August 12 to 16 last year to check compliance with WHO requirements.
The assessment covered manufacturing process, creation support systems, experiment, and excellent management among others. It is valid for three years.
Dr Mingkwan said GPO’s research, development, and production of Efavirenz serve as a key example of its success in producing generic drugs, especially crucial drugs, which are essential for the medical system.
Generic drugs have also gained GPO foreign credibility because they give Thais access to potent treatments similar to those found in their own homes for less money, she said.
She said that the GPO needs to keep working on developing basic medications so that patients can get access to affordable alternatives when their original substance patents expire.
The recent success of the GPO also supports the likelihood for HIV patients to lead normal lives as non-HIV persons.
According to WHO’s scheme on the part of HIV viral suppression, those who live with HIV and use any WHO-prequalified combination of treatments and testing platforms pose no risk of HIV being passed onto others.
Mingkwan: Relates to value, safety
Jarunee Siriphan, director of the Foundation for Action on Inclusion Rights ( Fair ) and founder of the People’s Movement to Eliminate Discrimination ( MovED ) said undetectable means untransmittable.
She cited the public health initiative Unknown Equals Untransmittable ( U=U), which uses advances in public health science to ensure a healthy life for those living with HIV ( PLHIV ).
” U=U is a crucial tool to enable PLHIV to release themselves from being tarnished and sinful,” says U=U.
They are encouraged to pursue their dream and live their lives to their full probable that, apart from being good, they won’t transmit the virus, she continued.
Ms. Jarunee argued that PLHIV benefits from the U=U method because they are permitted to define themselves as healthy and uninfected, especially in terms of employment.
The Public Health Ministry had come in, validate the U=U view, and incorporate the idea in the open market, some of which have rejected PLHIVs based on their body position, she continued.
She argued that employers shouldn’t take advantage of this tactic by demanding that candidates who have PLHIV disease demonstrate evidence of their disease reduction during hiring, as doing so would endanger people.
” Irregardless of destruction level, businesses have little right to exclude them from work. She continued,” The condition may serve as a role model for every company and everyone in community in tackling prejudice against PLHIVs.”
Jarunee: Hails U=U battle