No SRP for molnupiravir yet, says DOH

There is no suggested retail price for Merck & Co’s experimental antiviral pill molnupiravir in the country yet, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday.

During a media briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the pill has yet to obtain an emergency use authorization and may only be used by hospitals through compassionate special permits.

“Hindi pa rin tayo pwede mag issue ng SRP… kasi pinagaaralan pa ito. Kailangan lumabas muna ito doon sa living CPG guidelines ng DOH para marekomenda at saka magkakaron ng SRP ang isang gamot,” Vergeire said.

(We cannot yet issue an SRP… because it is still being studied. It needs to first appear in the living CPG guidelines of the DOH for a recommendation.)

Pharmaceutical company JackPharma Inc. said it estimates the pill will be around P130 to P150 per capsule.

MedEthix, the company appointed to import the pill, said molnupiravir will be rolled out in the Philippines through hospitals with compassionate special permits by November.

Tripartite agreements

Vergeire said the government also cannot have tripartite agreements on the purchase of molnupiravir at the moment.

“Kapag nasa compassionate special permit pa lang na level ang isang gamot, hindi tayo nagkakaroon ng tripartite agreement with any entity dahil hindi pa natin ito pwedeng bumili tayo ng pangmalawakan,” she said.

(If it is still at the compassionate special permit level, we cannot have tripartite agreements with any entity because we are not yet allowed to purchase in bulk.)

Meanwhile, Vergeire said that hospitals and doctors using molnupiravir will be held accountable for their use of the pill.

“And meron pong mga kaakibat na accountabilities ang ating mga doctor at mga ospital kapag ginamit nila ang molnupiravir under a compassionate special use permit,” Vergeire said.

(Our doctors and hospitals have accountabilities if they use molnupiravir under a compassionate special use permit.)

“So sila po ang magiging accountable whatever will be the reactions of the patient sa outcomes ng pasyente,” she added.

(They will be held accountable [for] whatever will be the reactions of the patients.)

A health expert previously said molnupiravir may be taken orally once exposed to COVID-19 as it decreases by half the chances of mild cases from becoming severe as well as the chances of exposed individuals from acquiring the illness. — RSJ, GMA News