With the number of COVID-19 patients surging to more than 20,000 daily, Thai authorities are busy taking steps to ensure an adequate supply of medicines.
Even though most COVID-19 patients only need basic medicines for fever and nasal decongestion, Thai medical authorities have been dispensing up to 2 million anti-viral Favipiravir tablets daily to minimize casualties.
Over the past three months, more than 3,000 patients have succumbed to the virus in Thailand and the rising daily death toll is nearing 100 on some days.
Latest treatment guideline
The Medical Services Department’s latest guideline for COVID-19 treatment, however, states that anti-viral medications should not be dispensed to asymptomatic cases as patients in this group can recover on their own. Doctors may consider prescribing the herbal medication Fah Talai Jone (Andrographis Paniculata), as it has proved to be useful in the treatment of COVID-19.
Symptomatic patients may be prescribed Favipiravir if their infection is detected early enough, to prevent their condition from worsening. However, if their infection is confirmed five or more days after they first develop symptoms, then prescribing Favipiravir is unnecessary. The anti-viral drug will also not be prescribed to people with mild symptoms.
However, anti-viral medication is strongly recommended for COVID-19 patients who fall under the vulnerable group, regardless of how mild their symptoms may be. The vulnerable group covers people aged 60 and above, those who have chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, any chronic lung problem, have had a stroke, uncontrollable diabetes, obesity (weighing over 90 kilos or BMI above 30), congenital heart disease, cirrhosis or low immunity.
These patients will be eligible for any of the following anti-viral medications: Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (five-day regime); Molnupiravir (five-day regime); Remdesivir (three-day regime); and Favipiravir (five-to-10-day regime).
These anti-viral medicines are also recommended for patients with comorbidity (presence of one or more additional conditions) and/or mild pneumonia.
In more serious cases, Remdesivir may be prescribed for five to 10 days.
Source: Thai Public Broadcasting Service