HOSPITALS AND local government units may now procure their own supply of Ronapreve, a monoclonal antibody treatment drug to prevent and fight SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the coronavirus disease 2019(Covid-19).
In a media briefing Monday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the department has issued administrative order 2021-0053 allowing hospitals and LGUs to purchase the drug developed by US firm Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.
"So, hindi na kailangang DOH pa ang bumili tapos magpapa-allocate pa lahat ng ospital, para mas mabilis at mas magamit agad ng ating mga kababayang nangangailangan ng ganitong gamot (The DOH no longer has to buy and allocate for the hospitals. This would hasten the use of the drug by our fellowmen who need it)," Vergeire said.
On October 1, the Food and Drug Administration gave Ronapreve an emergency use authorization (EUA) for patients ages 12 and above with a minimum weight of 40 kilograms.
At the time, Ronapreve cannot be sold in the market yet and only the government is allowed to procure and distribute it.
“So, for us to be able to facilitate the process at hindi tayo magkaroon ng bottleneck, to facilitate the provision of this drug to our hospitals at ma-decentralize natin, gumawa tayo ng administrative order (and to avoid, bottleneck, to facilitate the provision of this drug to our hospitals and decentralize it, we created an administrative order),” Vergeire said.
The drug has been found effective in preventing patients from developing severe symptoms and reducing the risk of hospitalization or death. (Ma. Teresa Montemayor)
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