KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry has decided to expand the use of the oral antiviral drug, Paxlovid, to private hospitals in the country.
Its Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said this was following a successful run in public hospitals with 1,364 people fully recovered up to June 5.
“There were no serious side effects among the patients who took the COVID-19 medication. The trial run at public hospitals started on April 15,” he said in a statement yesterday.
He said the Paxlovid medication will be given for free to patients at the private health facilities.
However, patients are still subjected to the consultation service charges, as well as other related fees determined by the private health facility.
“The priority of the Paxlovid treatment are COVID-19 high-risk patients. This treatment is proven safe and effective. It can also reduce severe effects of the infection, as well as the COVID-19 death rate,” he added.
Paxlovid is the first antiviral medication Malaysia is using to treat COVID-19 patients with light to medium symptoms or those in categories 2 and 3 of the infection.
