THE LOCAL government here has donated 1,000 bottles or 40,000 capsules of Molnupiravir (Molnarz) to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).
Molnupiravir is used for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease in adults with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing and at high risk for progressing to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.
City Health Office (CHO) head Dr. Ashley Lopez said the city government procured a total of 2,000 bottles of the Mulnopiravir, which arrived on Jan. 26, 2022. He handed the donations over to SPMC Chief of Hospitals, Dr. Ricardo Audan.
“The local government of Davao donated about 1,000 bottles that are good for 1,000 patients, for mild to moderate cases. We have remaining 1,000 bottles here sa atong stockroom sa pharmacy, most likely part of this will be allocated to our Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities (TTMFs), which handles mild to moderate cases (Our local government of Davao donated about 1,000 bottles and that is good for 1,000 patients with mild and moderate cases. We have the remaining 1,000 bottles in our pharmacy stockroom, most likely part of this will be allocated for our TTMFs which handle mild to moderate cases),” Dr. Lopez said.
Lopez said that studies show that the Mulnopiravir, the first and only oral anti-COVID-19 drug manufactured commercially, offers a faster COVID-19 treatment.
“Dako kaayo ni siya ug tabang sa atong mild and moderate COVID cases, according to our research ug kadtong mga reports sa places nga nakadawat ani mas paspas ang recovery sa patients (This is a big help for our mild and moderate COVID cases. According to our research and reports from places that received this drug, patients show fast recovery),” he said.
According to Lopez, this is also the first drug that addresses COVID-19 directly. Normally, to recover from symptoms, patients are given supplements, vitamins. Another set of medications is given if there are complications such as pneumonia. Anti-viral injectables are also used only in hospitals.
Lopez said that the non-hospital-based treatment facilities will have access to COVID-19 treatment.
“Kadtong mga non-hospital based nga nanginahanglan og anti-viral drugs we can provide them. We can assure them that they will be well monitored kung naa may mahitabo nga side effects, which are expected to be very very mild, most wala man kaayo significant effect sa paggamit aning Molnarz all over the world (We can provide the non-hospital-based (patients) who need the anti-viral drugs and we can assure that they will be well monitored for side effects that are expected to be very very mild. Mostly there are no significant effects on the use of Molnarz, all over the world, very minimal),” Lopez said.
Lopez added that the Mulnopiravir is still under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the FDA so its administration needs to be well-supervised by doctors. The CHO is currently making the draft of the process flow for the administration of these COVID-19 treatment drugs to non-hospital facilities.
Lopez said that the city may procure another batch of Molnupiravir depending on the demand.
He thanked Mayor Sara Duterte for the initiative of buying these drugs for Dabawenyos to avail for free.
