By Kenneth Paciente
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) has again clarified that there are still no drugs proven to be effective as a cure for COVID-19.
The DOH made this statement following reports that the current stocks of the anti-viral drug remdesivir and tocilizumab are running low in the country amid the spike of COVID-19 cases.
DOH Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said that remdesivir and the anti-flu drug avigan, among other drugs, are administered to COVID-19 patients “based on their status and [the] assessment of the doctor.”
The medicines were authorized to be used for COVID-19 patients “through a compassionate special permit.”
However, Vergeire explained that since these drugs have “no emergency authority” to be used for COVID-19, the country has no regular stocks of the medicines as the government cannot procure them.
“Ibig sabihin ang isang ospital, nag-a-apply sa Food and Drugs Administration para magamit ito ng ospital for their critical and severe patients,” Vergeire explained.
The DOH has also identified specific ways to use these drugs “based on the clinical guidelines that were drafted and adopted” by the agency.
“Hindi ‘yan cocktail, na lahat-lahat ng gamot ipinapasa mo sa pasyente. Depende po ‘yan sa estado ng pasyente,” Vergeire clarified. [That’s not a cocktail, that you pass all drugs to the patient. It depends on the condition of the patient.]
Treatment czar Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega, however, said that new stocks of these investigational drugs are scheduled to arrive in the country this March.
