Patients under the Office of the Vice President (OVP) telemedicine program with mild to moderate COVID-19 cases may now get the experimental COVID-19 pill, Molnupiravir, after Vice President Leni Robredo signed a deal with QualiMed Health network last Monday, November 22.
According to the signed agreement, the OVP will issue a guarantee letter to the qualified patients under its special medical assistance, signed and referred by the OVP’s Bayanihan E-Konsulta doctor.
The patients will further be assessed before getting the Molnupiravir prescription in the QualiMed facilities as stated in the MOA.
In a Facebook post, Vice President Robredo thanked the QualiMed Health Network for trusting them in the partnership.
“We are truly humbled and grateful to the QualiMed Health Network for trusting us with this partnership, helping us extend our reach in delivering aid to more of our kababayans in need. Maraming, maraming salamat po!” she said.
According to interim phase III clinical trials, the Molnupiravir, which was first shipped last November 17, 2021, can reduce the risk of hospitalization to 50% for people with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms.
Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued compassionate special permits (CSP) to some hospitals such as the QualiMed facilities in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, and in PGH compound for the use of Merck & Co. and Ridgeback Therapeutics’ Molnupiravir.
At this moment, experts from the European Medicines Agency said that Molnupiravir “should be given early and within five days of first symptoms to treat adults” with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms.
Moreover, Dr. Edsel Salvaña, in a Facebook post, urged the public to be careful in using Molnupiravir for it may have adverse effects and mutagenic potential once used in long-term medication.
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