COVID-19 Pills Now Available at VP Leni Robredo's Office

Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday said Molnupiravir, an oral pill used as COVID-19 treatment, is now available at her office for qualified patients.

A memorandum of agreement was signed with QualiMed Health Network to provide assistance for referred patients prescribed with Molnupiravir under the Bayanihan E-Konsulta Program.

"The [Office of the Vice President] will issue a guarantee letter under our special medical assistance program to any qualified patient referred by our volunteer doctors at Bayanihan E-Konsulta. QualiMed facilties will then further assess and prescribe the medicine to the patient," the statement said.

Molnupiravir, manufactured by U.S. pharmaceutical company Merck, is used for mild to moderate cases of COVID-19, and was shown to reduce hospitalization for newly infected patients by 50%. Philippines received its shipment on Nov. 17, the first in Southeast Asia.

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