By Chantalé Fletcher
THE government policy remains the same in the fight against Covid-19.
“We would only use medication, protocols and procedures approved by World Health Organization (WHO),” Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley during prime minister questions in the Lower House on Friday.
He was responding to a question from Fyzabad MP Dr Lackram Bodoe.
The Opposition MP asked Dr Rowley to indicate what steps the Government is taking to procure Molnupiravir to help in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
PM Rowley said, “The drug Molnupiravir was not approved for use by WHO.
“However, since it appears that this drug may have some potential, we await the appropriate approvals for the use in the world and in anticipation of that approval forthcoming; the Ministry of Health is in negotiations with the manufacturers and supplies.”
He added, “We’d be under distribution and availability and we would be ready to inform the population and use them as and when they become approved for use by the WHO.”
However, Dr Rowley said it was premature to speak about the number of doses of Molnupiravir.
Meanwhile, in response to Member of Parliament for Oropouche East Dr Roodal Moonilal on whether he would give the nation his assurance to pre-order the drug in similar fashion to the Sinopharn vaccine before approval, Dr Rowley said, “We are in competition with no one and we spoke about the preparations to use in the use in the same we were in preparation to use Sinopharn when it was being evaluated by WHO.
“Hence, our authorities in Ministry of Health have ongoing negotiations and contact with the possible suppliers. It is a standard procedure in preparation to use in the event that it becomes approved.”
