Despite shortage, Chiang Mai Covid-19 patients can now get drive-thru Favipiravir

Just days after health officials admitted there is a shortage of Favipiravir pills in Thailand, Chiang Mai’s mayor has announced that mild and asymptomatic Covid-19 patients can get the pills for free in drive-thru services. The services are available at Chiang Mai Municipal Hospital.

This news comes less than a week after Thailand’s Public Health Ministry secretary said from now on Favipiravir will only be given to patients with moderate or worse symptoms. The secretary had complained that patients should understand the drug is “not a snack”.

Favipiravir, sold under the brand name Avigan among others, is an antiviral medication used to treat influenza in Japan. It is also being studied to treat a number of other viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2. Like the experimental antiviral drugs T-1105 and T-1106, it is a pyrazinecarboxamide derivative – Wikipedia

The Rural…