Thailand approves use of domestically-produced Favipiravir for COVID-19 treatment
Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) has approved the use of Favipiravir tablets manufactured
by the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) in Thailand for the
treatment of COVID-19 to meet rising demand in the country.
GPO expert Nantakarn Suwanpitakkun said made-in-Thailand Favipiravir
tablets cost only half the prices of their imported equivalent, while their
quality is the same.
Thailand needs about 300,000 Favipiravir tablets each day, or
about 9 million a month. Earlier, GPO had imported an additional 5.5 million
tablets for treatment after the third wave of COVID-19 starting in early April
quickly spread to many countries.
In recent days, the number of daily new COVID-19 cases in
Thailand continued to surge to new records. On July 25 morning, the health
ministry announced 15,335 cases in the past 24 hours, raising the national
tally to 497,302. The same day, the pandemic claimed 129 more lives, bringing
the total fatalities to 4,059.
Thailand has so far administered 15.3 million doses of
COVID-19 vaccine./.