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The drug Molnupiravir photo Reuters
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Free distribution of the first coronavirus drug, the anti-virus drug Molnupiravir of the American company Merck, will start in Cyprus on Monday, the Ministry of Health announced. The country is among the first to use it, he said BNR.
The antiviral drug Molnupiravir, which is in hard capsules of 200 milligrams, will be free for health insured after a prescription by an authorized doctor and will only be available from pharmacies in public hospitals in Cyprus.
A strict protocol on the conditions and criteria for prescribing it came into force on Monday, which the Ministry of Health sent to all GPs, specialists and hospitals registered in the health insurance system.
The drug is used in patients with mild to moderate Covid-19 immediately after diagnosis to prevent severe hospitalization. It targets people at risk for infection – over the age of 65 and people over the age of 18 with serious illnesses listed.
General practitioners, infectious disease physicians and other specialists have the right to prescribe the medicine according to the prepared protocol.
In no case can the drug be used prophylactically and does not replace vaccination as an option to prevent the virus, said the Ministry of Health.
The first quantity delivered to Molnupiravir in Cyprus is 2,880 packages worth a total of 2.5m euros.
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