Hun Sen allows local production of Covid drugs

Prime Minister Hun Sen has authorized a local pharmaceutical company to produce the Covid-19 antiviral drug molnupiravir to ease supply and distribution issues, according to health ministry spokeswoman Or Vandine.

Vandine confirmed to reporters on March 10 – during the ceremony handing over 20 vaccination vehicles to several provincial health departments – that Hun Sen had given the green light to a local pharmaceutical company to produce molnupiravir to ensure its wide availability throughout the Kingdom.

“The other objective of this authorization is to reduce the price of this drug. Approval has been granted and we have also issued registrations for several other Covid-19 drugs that are currently being imported. In the meantime, all of these drugs are widely available for the public to purchase from any licensed pharmacy,” she said.

Vandine, who also heads the national Covid-19 vaccination committee, said the general public should not worry about possible future shortages of the popular molnupiravir. If it’s not available, people might choose to use other drugs as well – like traditional Chinese medicine, which is also effective against Covid-19.

“We also produce traditional Chinese medicine for sale in the Kingdom. In fact, we are also considering exporting it,” she added.