Brunei received some 5,040 packs of Molnupiravir anti-viral pills on Thursday evening, marking the first shipment of 25,000 packs procured by Ministry of Health from the pharmaceutical company, Merck.
In a statement issued by the ministry, the oral medication produced from the American company has been granted permission for emergency use from US Food and Drug Authority as well as Brunei Darussalam Medicines Control Authority.

The drugs will be used to treat COVID-19 patients with priority given to adults categorised as high-risk, reducing their risk of developing severe symptoms.
Every patient needs to have a doctor’s assessment to ensure the suitability of receiving the pills and each medical pack is a five-day usage.
According to Merck, the anti-viral is used to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults and is not authorised to be administered to patients below 18 years old as well as pregnant women.
For more updates and information, the public can visit the ministry’s website www.moh.gov.bn or contact Health Advice Line 148 or via the BruHealth mobile app. – Analisa Amu

This article was first published on 19 March 2022 in our Weekly Epaper issue 185 |
THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN