Patients may now avail of molnupiravir, an antiviral drug for the treatment of mild to moderate cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), under the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) Bayanihan E-Konsulta program.
The good news announced by Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday night, Nov. 22, after the OVP and QualiMed Health Network signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for assisting patients prescribed with molnupiravir.
Under the MOA, the OVP will issue a guarantee letter under its special medical assistance program to any qualified patient referred by a volunteer doctor through Bayanihan E-Konsulta--its free medical teleconsultation service.
For its part, the QualiMed facilities will then further assess and prescribe the antiviral medicine to the patient.
“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 (countrymen) in need. Maraming, maraming salamat po (Thank you very much)!,” Robredo said in a Facebook post.
Signing the agreement were OVP Undersecretary Philip Dy and QualiMed Health Network President and Chief Executive Officer Jaime Ysmael, and Chief Operating Officer Margaret Bengzon.
Bayanihan E-Konsulta patients may get part of the first shipment of molnupiravir, which arrived in the Philippines last Nov. 17.
READ: First batch of anti-COVID drug Molnupiravir to arrive in PH on Nov. 18
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a compassionate special permit for the use of molnupiravir, which developed by United States (US)-based Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, to several hospitals.
Among these are QualiMed facilities in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan and Manila within the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Compound, both located in the National Capital Region-plus area.