Isko Moreno allows Non-Manila residents to avail for COVID-19 medication

Fransisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso reiterated that non-Manila residents can also avail [themselves] of anti-COVID medication from the Manila city government. The LGU’s have reported that they have sufficient supplies of Remdesivir, Tocilizumab, Baricitinib, and Molnupiravir the medicine currently in demand amid the current surge in Covid cases.

“Sa ating mga kababayan na naghahanap ng gamot, welcome po kayo sa Maynila. Ang importante, mabuhay yung tao, mailigtas yung tao, kahit sino pa siya. Sa Maynila, walang mayaman, walang middle class, walang mahirap. Lahat pantay-pantay. They can avail these medicines. Basta mabuhay lang yung tao,” Moreno said.

Moreno and his staff have worked tirelessly in distributing boxes of Molnupiravir to individuals who have contracted the Omicron variant. Molnupiravir is the first oral antiviral drug that can reduce the risk of severe COVID-19 cases. The drug is said to reduce the risk of death and hospitalization by about 50%. Additionally, Molnupiravir can prevent mild cases of COVID-19 from progressing into a more severe illness provided the drug is taken during the first five days of infection.

The Manila city government has acquired an initial shipment of 40,000 capsules of the drug which has been delivered to the Sta. Ana Hospital last November.

Moreno expects another delivery of Molnupiravir by the end of January due to the surging case numbers this month.

“All they have to do is coordinate sa ating Manila Health Department or dun sa mga pinopost naming numero, tawagan lang nila at idedeliver natin at i-eextend natin yung mga gamot laban sa Covid-19. Reseta lang talaga kailangan. Kasi we could not dispense without the prescription,” the 47-year-old presidential aspirant pointed out.

Last Sunday Isko’s running mate, Dr. Willie Ong, urged other mayors to follow Isko’s example and procure the drug as soon as possible.

“Meron po akong appeal sa ating butihing mayors, kasi kailangan focus tayo sa gamot. Sa ating mga butihing mayors, sa NCR (National Capital Region), sa probinsya, bumili na kayo ng gamot sa Covid,” the noted cardiologist and internist urged in a live video posted on his Facebook page.

“Ang tunay na gamot sa Covid sa ngayon, meron tayong Molnupiravir na 30 percent effective, meaning na pag ibinibigay sa mild to moderate Covid patients, 30 percent less hospitalization, 30 percent less death,” Ong said.

Ong showed immense concern as the country recorded 265 deaths last Sunday. Whereas South Africa, where Omicron was first detected, only has a death count of 57 during their surge. He claims that the high number of fatalities could be connected to the lack of medication, public hospitals, and free health care for the poor.

“Bakit? Baka yung gamot natin hindi na naibibigay, baka yung mahihirap natin hindi na naipapasok sa ospital ng libre kaya sa bahay na lang nagse-self medicate kaya namamatay. Yung lang naman yun, kulang sa gamot, kulang ka sa ospital, kaya mas marami namamatay,” Ong pointed out.

While Manila is offering medication to non-residents, Ong has stated that the city cannot supply the entire country and that other officials should follow Isko’s lead.

“Kung kayo ay nasa NCR, order muna kayo nitong Molnupiravir. Diyan sa mga probinsiya, order na rin tayo kasi magsa-surge din diyan after a few weeks, baka delayed lang ng two weeks or
three weeks,” Ong said.

He also advises advanced orders for Paxlovid, a drug that can prevent hospitalization by 87%. However, since Pfizer does not sell the drug to LGUs, Ong mentions that the generic Vexovid is readily available.

“Meron generic na mabibili natin, itong Vexovid, parehong-pareho ito sa Paxlovid na Nirmatrelvir + Ritonavir. Meron ng maoorderan niyan, nagkalat na sa Viber ng mga duktor. alam na alam na nila ito. Sa mga mayors order na tayo. We have to buy the medicines as fast as possible,” he said.

“Vexovid, order kayo ng mga 500 courses din. Dito kami sa Maynila, umorder na kami ng Vexovid. Kami ang unang umorder,” Ong said.