Public Health Ministry - Supply of favipiravir is adequate to treat COVID-19 patients

[snoop1130]

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - As the latest wave of COVID-19 spreads across Thailand, the majority of infections are being reported in Chiang Mai, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Ratchasima, greater Bangkok, Chonburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan, while there is limited spread in other provinces. The Ministry of Public Health has confirmed that Thailand has an adequate supply of antiviral drug favipiravir for treating COVID-19 patients. The country currently has 500,000 favipiravir tablets, with a million more on order, to be received by the end of this month.

 

Director-General of the Department of Disease Control, Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong, said some 10,000 favipiravir tablets are used each day and the supply remains adequate. Dr. Opas also said Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakal, has instructed the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) to order 1 million more tablets, and they should be delivered by the end of April or the beginning of May. The ministry also plans to order 1 million more tablets.

 

The Director-General of the Department of Disease Control said the latest spread of COVID-19 was from entertainment venues. People who visited these places spread the disease to their families, work colleagues and community members. At a private school in Samut Prakan province, 32 people, including education personnel, students and their parents, contracted COVID-19 from a teacher. The issue is worrying as children do not usually display symptoms, and there is a chance that the disease will be transmitted to senior family members, which may lead to severe cases or deaths. Educational institutions have to be temporarily closed.

 

Although more new COVID-19 cases are being reported, the infection rate is expected to slow down. The number of severe cases and fatalities may rise because of the high number of infections, and COVID-19 transmissions are taking place in offices and business venues. Therefore, people are advised to refrain from going outside. Different sectors are encouraged to allow their employees to work from home and to conduct screening. Social gatherings and dining in public places should also be avoided, since they will have to take off their masks. People are advised to wear face masks at all times when they have to interact with others, wash their hands regularly, use their own utensils and clean equipment. The number of COVID-19 cases is expected to reduce in one to two weeks, if everyone follows the disease-control guidelines.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-04-19

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

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[ukrules]

This reminds me of the announcement that there is no chance they will run out of masks about last February which rather ironically came a few weeks before the masks ran out.

Edited April 19, 2021 by ukrules

[Danderman123]

There is not much evidence these pills have any effect on COVID.

[RichardColeman]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The number of severe cases and fatalities may rise because of the high number of infections,

Wonder how many years of university education that statement required.

[PatOngo]

More Chinese gunk to peddle to the naive public!

[Fex Bluse]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Ministry of Public Health has confirmed that Thailand has an adequate supply of antiviral drug favipiravir for treating COVID-19 patients

OK, so based on this, the supply is probably not adequate 

[internationalism]

2 hours ago, PatOngo said:

More Chinese gunk to peddle to the naive public!

it's japanese patented medicine and imported from japan.

yes, china also makes generic of it, as well as india, russia.

this medicine is approved now in those countries for covid.

that's why thai started to import.

it's one of only 3 medicines approved worldwide for covid, out of 1250 medicines used now experimentally.

https://covid19-help.org/database?start=0&length=10&columns[0][data]=status&columns[0][search][value]=Approved by FDA|Approved for COVID-19 treatment (China%2C India%2C Russia)&order[0][column]=4&order[0][dir]=desc

[webfact]

With few vaccines, Thailand relies on Favipiravir in battle against COVID

 

 

Although most COVID-19 patients in Thailand will not be treated with Favipiravir since their symptoms are too mild, the country is still using more than 20,000 pills of this antiviral medication per day.

 

Favipiravir is recommended as a treatment for COVID-19 patients suffering serious symptoms such as pneumonia or with risk factors such as uncontrollable diabetes, lung problems, or old age.

 

Demand for the pills has soared since Thailand’s third wave of infections emerged earlier this month, says Medical Services Department director-general Dr. Somsak Akksilp. Infections in the third wave added up to 13,489 as of Monday (April 19).

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/with-few-vaccines-thailand-relies-on-favipiravir-in-battle-against-covid/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-04-20

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[Shuya]

39 minutes ago, webfact said:

Although most COVID-19 patients in Thailand will not be treated with Favipiravir since their symptoms are too mild, the country is still using more than 20,000 pills of this antiviral medication per day.

interesting.... wonder where they disappear

[KKr]

The recommended cure amounts to 130 tablets (of 200 mg) per patient (2 x 9 first day, 2 x 4 thereafter for 14 days.)
However, it seems patients in Thailand do not need such large doses.

FAVIPIRAVIR DOSAGE

Favipiravir should be taken orally at about the same time each day, either with or without food. Favipiravir tablets should be swallowed whole with water. The tablet should not be opened, broken, or chewed. For patients with COVID-19, the usual dosage of favipiravir for adults is 1800 mg orally twice daily on day 1, followed by 800 mg orally twice daily for 14 days.

from: https://www.ikrispharmanetwork.com/favipiravir/
 

Nevertheless, 1.500.000 tablets on order means some 12.000 people can be treated.
assuming that just 5 % of cases will be severe, 230.000 infections would stretch the system.
230.000 infections on say 65.000.000 people is about 0.35 %

Worldwide, infection rate is about 1.75 % 
(141.000.000 confirmed cases, and counting, on say 8 billion people.)

obviously I do not have all the relevant information,
but to me it seems that 7.500.000 tablets may be needed 

 
 

[Caldera]

The supply might be adequate, but is the drug adequate to treat Covid patients? Serious question.

 

[Taxi]

Here's an interesting site that pools the results for studies of each drug used for Covid.  Favipiravir would not be my first choice based on this list. Interesting to see how beneficial vitamin D is.  Click on the drug name for a more detailed breakdown of the studies.

 

COVID-19 early treatment: real-time analysis of 584 studies (c19early.com) Fluvoxamine 

[Deli]

Well Government, look at the USA and the UK. They show you how to roll out a nationwide vaccination in brief time.

[ukrules]

If it gets out of control then they need to (and will) lock down until the population are largely vaccinated.

 

[Greenhill]

23 minutes ago, Deli said:

Well Government, look at the USA and the UK. They show you how to roll out a nationwide vaccination in brief time.

With Israel, No. 1!!

[natway09]

This newsflash  is just to take the heat off the fact that they stuffed up on vaccination

material ordering & the local manufacturer is totally disorganized or still fighting over who keeps the BBBBBBBBBaht, or both

[DogNo1]

When I went to a Bangkok hospital for a follow-up consultation about my high blood glucose today, I found that my doctor was extremely busy because of needing to cover for a group of doctors who had just been diagnosed with Covid-19.  The doctors were furious that they had not been provided with enough of the Chinese vaccine to inoculate all of the medical staff.  The doctors will be observed for a few days to see whether they develop severe symptoms.  If they don't, they will be sent home to self- isolate for 14 days.  To say that they are very unhappy with the powers that be is an extreme understatement.

It might be a good idea to avoid going to hospitals for a while if possible.

[buwiro]

Which Bangkok Hospital?

 

[buwiro]

16 minutes ago, buwiro said:

Which Bangkok Hospital?

 

 

32 minutes ago, DogNo1 said:

When I went to a Bangkok hospital for a follow-up consultation about my high blood glucose today, I found that my doctor was extremely busy because of needing to cover for a group of doctors who had just been diagnosed with Covid-19.  The doctors were furious that they had not been provided with enough of the Chinese vaccine to inoculate all of the medical staff.  The doctors will be observed for a few days to see whether they develop severe symptoms.  If they don't, they will be sent home to self- isolate for 14 days.  To say that they are very unhappy with the powers that be is an extreme understatement.

It might be a good idea to avoid going to hospitals for a while if possible.

Which Bangkok Hospital?

[DogNo1]

Sorry but I must be careful to avoid prosecution for defamation.  It wasn't one of the big names but a smaller hospital used mostly by Thais located in the vicinity of the Victory Monument.

[Bkk Brian]

Why aren't they using Dexamethasone, its cheap as chips.

 

"New figures, published today, show that use of the drug has so far saved 22,000 lives in the UK and an estimated one million worldwide."

 

https://www.england.nhs.uk/2021/03/covid-treatment-developed-in-the-nhs-saves-a-million-lives/

[internationalism]

dexa is a steroid, can be used only just before ventilation.

the other medicines can be used also as prevention, at home.

For sure thailand has a large stock locally made dexa, they don't have to write it on the front pages. But favi is not made in thailand, it's new, expensive and difficult to come across medicine, so the government wants to show a caring face to save their face

[Bkk Brian]

6 minutes ago, internationalism said:

dexa is a steroid, can be used only just before ventilation.

 

Yea, just read up on that thanks

[MrJ2U]

8 hours ago, ukrules said:

If it gets out of control then they need to (and will) lock down until the population are largely vaccinated.

 

Impossible.

 

Also Thailand doesn't have the vaccines to even vaccinate 2% of the population.

[Danderman123]

1 hour ago, Bkk Brian said:

Why aren't they using Dexamethasone, its cheap as chips.

 

"New figures, published today, show that use of the drug has so far saved 22,000 lives in the UK and an estimated one million worldwide."

 

https://www.england.nhs.uk/2021/03/covid-treatment-developed-in-the-nhs-saves-a-million-lives/

Dexamethasone does show efficacy in reducing inflammation from COVID-19. Inflammation seems to be the cause of many COVID symptoms.

 

Dexamethasone is a steroid, so caution must be used, due to certain side effects.

[Danderman123]

14 hours ago, Shuya said:

interesting.... wonder where they disappear

Obviously, the 200 severely ill patients are consuming 20,000 pills a day.

[bangon04]

11 hours ago, DogNo1 said:

  The doctors will be observed for a few days to see whether they develop severe symptoms.  If they don't, they will be sent home to self- isolate for 14 days.  

so self-isolation at home IS an option in Thailand...... specially if you are already in a hospital ...