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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOH: PH looks for other suppliers of investigational drugs vs. COVID-19

DOH: PH looks for other suppliers of investigational drugs vs. COVID-19

Published Apr 29, 2021 02:35 pm

The Philippines is now looking at other suppliers of investigational drugs against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as India, a major drug supplier worldwide, is now battling a surge in infections.

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Thursday, April 29, that India had been one of the country’s major sources of drugs, especially for investigational drugs such as Remdesivir.

Vergeire said the National Task Force Against COVID-19, through vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., looked for other sources of investigational drugs.

“So ngayon, nakikipag-usap tayo doon sa major supplier sa Switzerland ng Tocilizumab (So now, we are talking with a major supplier in Switzerland of Tocilizumab),” the health official said in an interview over DZBB.

“At tapos ‘yung sa Remdesivir, we have spoken to all of the suppliers here in the country at nakikipag-usap din po tayo dahil nga po naputol ‘yung major supplier natin for this drug (And then as for Remdesivir, we have spoken to all of the suppliers here in the country because our major supplier for this drug has been cut off), she added.

The Department of Health (DOH) had noted that the use of Remdesivir and Tocilizumab in the COVID-19 treatment are based on World Health Organization (WHO) Solidarity Trials and are used only for critical and severe cases.

“Remdesivir and Tocilzumab are not yet recommended for the use of mild and asymptomatic cases,” the Health department said in a statement.

Remdesivir is currently in use in country under a Compassionate Special Permit, while Tocilizumab is a registered anti-inflammatory drug.

Related Tags

india covid-19 Department of Health (DOH) surge tocilizumab remdesivir
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