Pushfavipiravir: The Essential Cure for Influenza – Ministry of Public Health Proposal

2023-09-29 23:00:00

Saturday, September 30, 2023, 6:00 a.m.

pushfavipiravir

Cure ‘influenza’

Ministry of Public Health prepares to propose

Enter the main drug account

The Ministry of Public Health is preparing to push “favipiravir” onto the national list of essential medicines. Used to treat influenza in addition to oseltamivir. It will be proposed to the academic committee. Ministry of Public Health before issuing an official announcement The Department of Disease Control revealed that the influenza outbreak situation is continuing to increase, but it is not severe and can still be handled.

On September 29, Dr. Thongchai Keeratihatthayakorn Director General of the Department of Medical Services The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) has revealed guidelines for treating influenza with oseltamivir. (Oseltamivir) and favipiravir (Favipiravir) that Both drugs can be used to treat influenza. At the meeting of academic experts of the Department of Medical Services on September 28th. Treatment options for influenza with favipiravir are being considered. In addition to oseltamivir This will be submitted to the Ministry of Public Health’s academic committee before being issued as an official treatment guideline announcement once more. Doctors already know that favipiravir can be used to treat influenza. Just before this there was an outbreak of COVID-19. Therefore, the drug favipiravir was introduced to treat infected people. It creates an understanding that each person has a disease. But actually it can be used to treat it like oseltamivir.

In the past, oseltamivir Already included in the national list of essential medicines. Only Favipiravir remains. Which was previously used for free treatment in COVID-19 patients. But when COVID is no longer a dangerous contagious disease From now on, steps must be taken to push it forward to the Subcommittee for Development of the National List of Essential Medicines.

Dr. Sophon Iamsirithaworn Deputy Director General of the Department of Disease Control Mentioning the influenza situation in Thailand, information from the Epidemiology Division, Department of Disease Control, reported an influenza outbreak from January 1 – September 16, with 185,216 reported cases, an illness rate of 279.90 per 100,000 people, and 4 deaths, divided into provinces. Nakhon Ratchasima, 2 cases, Songkhla and Tak, 1 case per province, morbidity and death rate 0.002, most likely due to influenza viruses type A/H1N1 and A/H3N2. For this week, there are reports of influenza cases showing a trend of continuing to increase.

As for the influenza outbreak numbers, they are similar to those of 2019, before the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. Because Thailand has been facing COVID since the beginning of 2020, during that time we had various preventive measures in place. Wear a mask. Makes it beneficial in preventing respiratory diseases. But now the situation is starting to relax. Around the world, more and more travel But if we consider the outbreak numbers before COVID-19 and this year, it is considered that the outbreak is similar to 2022. Therefore, influenza, although it is very common, But it’s not considered too severe to handle, it can still be handled.

While Dr. Mingkwan Suphanphong, Director of the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (Public Health Promotion District) revealed that the District Public Health Department has shipped oseltamivir to agencies that requested reserves (stock) that have been ordered since August. But more must be produced. Due to increased demand Currently, production is being accelerated from existing raw materials for the production of oseltamivir. There are approximately 2,800 kilograms of raw materials that can be produced into approximately 26 million oseltamivir tablets, usable by approximately 2.6 million people, produced in 3 sizes, both for children and adults, with small children size 30 milligrams, older children size 45 milligrams, adults size 75. milligram

It was stated that the 30-milligram dose of oseltamivir for young children might be delivered by October 4th, while the 45-milligram dose might be delivered as late as October 9th, while the adult medicines would not be able to be delivered gradually until October 4th. This October as well. As for Favipiravir, there are 1.6 million tablets available, which can be used to treat approximately 30,000 patients, and there is still raw material to produce another 800,000 tablets. Consider adding favipiravir to the National List of Essential Medicines.

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