Presidential aspirant and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said the Manila government will be rolling out the COVID-19 antiviral pill Molnupiravir for free.
At the advice of Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna and running mate Doc Willie Ong, Moreno procured Molnupiravir last month, as part of his science-based response to the pandemic.
“Ito ay isang capsule or isang oral medication na pinaniniwalaan ng maraming doctor, plus of course, science will agree with it na ito ay makakatulong para mailigtas, madagdagan ng proteksyun sa kalusugan,” he said during a special broadcast on his Facebook page.
According to the World Health Organization, Molnupiravir reduces the risk of hospitalization for mild to moderate COVID-19 cases by 50%.
Moreno has always advocated for a pandemic response that is supported by science. To recall, he pushed for the lifting of the mandatory use of face shields because no scientific explanations backed its benefits.
Under Moreno’s leadership, Manila was also among the first local government units to procure COVID-19 medicines, tocilizumab, and remdesivir. And just as he had done before, the Manila mayor said Molnupiravir will be accessible to both Manilans and non-Manilans, free of charge.
“Ipagkakaloob namin ng libre. Libre ‘yan tulad sa remdesivir at tocilizumab,” Moreno said.
“Kung buhay ang pag-uusapan, ang Maynila since day one ng pandemya ay pinipilit yakapin kahit sino.”
Those who would like to avail of the medicines need only to present a prescription for the required medicine, an RT-PCR test with a positive result, and a photocopy of any valid ID of the patient or representative in any of the six district hospitals in the city.
