Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 22) — The Philippine government has not yet purchased stocks of Pfizer’s oral COVID-19 pill Paxlovid, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III bared on Friday, the same day the World Health Organization strongly recommended the use of the antiviral drug.
He said Pfizer is requiring an indemnification law before it sells the life-saving drugs to the government to absolve itself of liabilities in case of serious side effects.
“Hindi lang tayo makapagangkat, ang gobyerno, ng maramihan dahil ang hinihingi ng kumpaya para magbenta sila ng Paxlovid direktamyente sa gobyerno, ay dapat may indemnification law. Kung sakaling merong problema sa paggamit ng Paxlovid, sinisigurado nila na hindi sila hahabulin, hindi madedemanda,” he said in the government-led Laging Handa briefing.
[Translation: The government cannot import this drug because the company is asking for an indemnification law before it sells Paxlovid directly to the government. If a problem arises from taking Paxlovid, they want to be sure they cannot be sued.]
The World Health Organization made a firm recommendation on Friday to administer Paxlovid to mild and moderate COVID-19 patients at highest risk of hospital admission. It said Paxlovid is the best therapeutic choice for patients with non-severe COVID-19 who are at highest risk of developing severe disease and hospitalization, such as unvaccinated, elderly, or immunocompromised patients.
Duque said that while the government does not have a stockpile of Paxlovid, several hospitals have been allowed to purchase and administer the said drug.
The health chief said vaccination, including booster shots, remains to be a priority in ensuring that a person who will catch the virus will not be severely affected.
