Stocks of COVID-19 treatments remdesivir, tocilizumab running low: DOH

The Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday that the country’s stock of drugs remdesivir and tocilizumab used for COVID-19 patients is running low due to the continuous increase of cases.

DOH, however, promised P5 million additional funding for hospitals to restock the said COVID-19 medicine supply.

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“The current stocks of remdesivir and tocilizumab are running low. The remaining supplies being used by select hospitals are donations from the WHO (World Health Organization),” it told reporters.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed the use of remdesivir and tocilizumab for COVID-19 patients through a compassionate use permit.

The drugs must also have emergency use authorization from the FDA and a positive recommendation from the Health Technology Assessment Council before the government could buy them.

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Meanwhile, stocks of dexamethasone are currently sufficient.

“However, if additional supplies do not arrive and considering the current trend of infection, supplies may only last for another two weeks at most,” the DOH said.

Stocks of COVID-19 treatments remdesivir, tocilizumab running low: DOH

DOH also expressed concerns regarding need for more high flow nasal cannulas (HFNC) to augment the 1,318 in private and public hospitals in Metro Manila.

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“The Health Facility and Services Development Team have already proposed the inclusion of funding amounting to P1,020,000,000.00 for the procurement of 2,550 units of HFNC under Bayanihan 3,” the DOH said.

“To ensure unhampered supply of COVID-19 therapeutics, the DOH will be downloading P5 million pesos to each DOH hospital including specialty hospitals in NCR, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon,” it added.