GPO plans Covid relief for Songkran

The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) plans to distribute 45,000 courses of the Paxlovid antiviral medication combo it received yesterday from Pfizer (Thailand) to help treat Covid-19 patients during the Songkran festival.

Department of Medical Services (DMS) director-general Somsak Akksilp said yesterday that one set of Paxlovid consists of two Nirmatrelvir pills and one Ritonavir tablet. Each set must be taken two times a day for five days.

Some patients such as pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, those who use some kind of combined oral contraceptive and those with liver or kidney problems should not take the drugs, Dr Somsak said.

Having received the drugs, he said the GPO will distribute the medication to provincial hospitals and inspectors, while Public Health Ministry inspectors-general will designate amounts to be allocated to local…