Thailand Ministry of Health reports 24,719 new COVID-19 cases and an additional 42 deaths since yesterday. The ministry also announced an additional 16,857 recovered patients.
The Rural Doctor Society (RDF) Facebook page posted a message saying several hospitals are short of COVID-19 medication. The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) on Saturday announced that there is no shortage.
GPO Deputy Director, Sirikul Methivirangsan said that there are 24 million Favipiravir pills on reserved. There are also another 60 million currently being produced. In total the GPO has 84 million to be distributed across the nation. Aside from these, local GPO units have a reserve of their own.
RDS claimed that back in September, GPO began producing the pills and access was easy. In October, when the Delta cases begin to decline, there was a good number of reserves. This prompted the Public Health Ministry to allow access to everyone who tested positive to obtain the pills.
Recently, the shortage was so severe that hospitals are only left a few of the pills. Most of the pills left are being reserved for critical cases and the elderly. The formerly open distribution of the pills became stricter. Hospitals have to verify the patient’s need for the pill before handing it.
Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Kiattiphum Wongrajit said “Outpatient care will be provided for patients who cannot access the two systems. It will be an alternative service to be available at certain respiratory infection clinics.”
“Outpatient care will be available at every hospital from March 1 because coverage for Covid-19 patients remains unchanged under the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients scheme,” Dr. Kiattiphum said.
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