Hong Kong begins prescribing Paxlovid for Covid-19 patients

HONG KONG (China Daily/Asia News Network): The Hospital Authority began on Tuesday (March 15) prescribing the oral drug Paxlovid to Covid-19 patients receiving treatment at public hospitals.

In a statement, the Hong Kong government said the first shipment of the Pfizer drug arrived in Hong Kong on Monday and has been distributed to the Hospital Authority for application

It is the second Covid-19 antiviral drug made available for patients in high-risk groups in Hong Kong. The Hospital Authority has earlier introduced another oral drug Molnupiravir, which is developed by Merck and Ridgeback Therapeutics.

Apart from patients of public hospitals and designated clinics, these two drugs will also be prescribed for Covid-19 patients at residential care homes through the government outreach medical services based on the patients’ condition.

The government will also supply the drugs on loan too private hospitals that are rendering medical support to Covid-19 patients through various means.

The government said Covid-19 oral drugs are instrumental to its effort in treating patients infected with Covid-19. It has procured an appropriate amount of Covid-19 oral drugs and will continue the procurement and stockpiling of these drugs.

The subsequent shipments of Paxlovid are due to arrive in Hong Kong in the next few months.

Also on Tuesday, the ninth batch of 1.4 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine was delivered to Hong Kong from Beijing.

The government said its staff has carried out stringent inspections to ensure the vaccine complies with the product specifications and that the transportation process follows the relevant cold-chain requirements.