Thailand’s Public Health Ministry has warned pharmacies that Covid-19 drugs should only be provided to patients with a doctor’s prescription. The warning comes after the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration approved a proposal to allow pharmacies and health clinics to dispense antiviral drugs for treatment of the virus.
As of yesterday, Favipiravir, Molnupiravir and Paxlovid can be sold to Covid-19 patients whose doctors have prescribed the drugs. However, health minister Anutin Charnvirakul has reiterated the warning to pharmacies, adding that relevant bodies, including provincial public health offices and the Food and Drug Administration, should monitor the anti-viral drugs being dispensed by pharmacies.
Meanwhile, Nation Thailand reports that the National Health Security Office has been dispensing the anti-viral drugs through various apps, since July 11. In June, the NHSO introduced a self-isolation programme, with the participation of 532 pharmacies around the country. Since then, 55,482 patients have been treated through the programme, of whom 21,000 are in Bangkok.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
