The medical center chief of Gov. Celestino Gallares Hospital (GCGMH) revealed that the local regional hospital acquired a supply of Remdesivir, a drug being used for severe coronavirus disease (Covid) cases.
In a radio interview today August 3, 2020, GCGMH medical center chief Dr. Kismet Macuno said the hospital’s pharmacy has acquired supply of the drug that has shown tremendous promise in improving the condition of critical Covid patients.
However, the drug is quite costly, Macuno said. She added that a patient may need 11 vials before the critical Covid patient’s condition improves. The cost of every vial ranges from P7,000 to P9,000.
The medical center chief said the only laboratory-confirmed Covid-positive patient in GCGMH, who is from Alicia town, was not given the drug. The patient was given oxygen support and medicines to address the symptoms. Macuno said that the Alicia Covid-positive patient was discharged last Friday, July 31, 2020.
THE BACKGROUND
Remdesivir is a broad-spectrum antiviral medication. It is administered via an injection into the vein, according to website Drugs.com.
The drug is approved for emergency use in the United States, India, Singapore and approved for use on severe Covid patients in Japan, European Union, and Australia, according to several sources such as the European Medicines Agency, British Journal of Phamacology, and the website Drugs.com.
Department of Health Usec. Maria Rosario Vergerie said the drug is still in trial phase and the results remain inconclusive.
However, she said that some patients taking the drug spent less time in critical care and were able to recover quickly.