T&T’S PM says Ministry of Health awaiting W-H-O approval for life saving covid drug

By a Staff Reporter: While T&T’s Gov’t is concerned about high level health care in response to the rapid spread of the covid 19 virus in the country, its protocols will remain unchanged as it pertains to approval of specific drugs in particular, to assist.

Responding to Fyzabad MP Dr Lackram Bodoe’s questions in the Parliament on Friday as to the limited ICU beds available for use as well as the availability of a new potentially lifesaving drug on the international market to treat the covid 19 virus, PM Dr Keith Rowley said his Govt will continue to rely on WHO approval for protocols, procedures and medication

It was last week that the first pill designed to treat symptomatic Covid was approved by the UK medicines regulator. The tablet - molnupiravir - will be given twice a day to vulnerable patients recently diagnosed with the disease. In clinical trials the pill, originally developed to treat flu, cut the risk of hospitalisation or death by about half.

With this being taken into consideration, The PM was quick to note that while awaiting the approvals, the MOH is already in communication with the suppliers for access.