Gov’t Committed to Meeting Demands for COVID-19 Therapeutic Drugs
The Government continues to renew its commitment to fulfill the rising demand for COVID-19 therapeutic drugs as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the country.
According to Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, there are three types of therapeutic drugs that cannot be produced domestically, namely remdesivir, actemra, and gammaraas.
“We heavily rely on imported COVID-19 therapeutic drugs, such as remdesivir, actemra, and gammaraas. Those therapeutic drugs are in short supply worldwide since everyone needs them,” the Minister said in a joint press statement at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Monday (26/7).
The Minister added that 150 thousand vials of remdesivir will arrive in July, while another 1.2 million vials will arrive in August.
“We are currently in the process of manufacturing remdesivir domestically. Hopefully, we can make it soon,” he said.
The Minister also underscored that the Government will receive a thousand vials of actemra in July and strive to receive more supplies from a number of countries.
“In August, we will import 138,000 vials from countries that you may not expect because we are searching this actemra all over the world,” he said, adding that his ministry will import 26 thousand vials of Gammaraas in July, while a total of 27 thousand vials in August.
“These therapeutic drugs will arrive in the country gradually. We hope the distribution process will be more convenient in August,” he added.
The Minister also underscored that COVID-19 therapeutic drugs should only be given with a doctor’s prescription.
“The three therapeutic drugs must be injected and administered in hospitals. To that end, these therapeutic drugs must be used properly according to the procedure,” he remarked. (DND/UN) (RIF/EP)