COVID patients caught in crossfire of battle over drug monopoly

13 Sept 07:01 Key points summarised by AI

Thai COVID-19 patients face a dilemma due to the government's monopoly on antiviral drug procurement, sparking concerns over limited access to effective treatments.
The Rural Doctors Society (RDS) urges the government to end the Government Pharmaceutical Organization's (GPO) monopoly, advocating for private hospitals to procure drugs and be reimbursed to improve availability and reduce costs.
The government clarifies that while private hospitals can procure FDA-approved antiviral drugs, free medication is exclusively provided through state facilities based on Medical Services Department (MDS) guidelines.
MDS guidelines detail specific antiviral drug prescriptions (e.g., Favipiravir, Molnupiravir) based on patient symptoms and risk factors, with private hospital access requiring payment, creating a two-tiered system for treatment.

Cabinet approves ฿10.5bn central fund for flood relief

Yesterday 14:04 Key points summarised by AI

The Cabinet allocated 10.5 billion baht from the fiscal 2027 central emergency fund to provide financial relief for flood victims.
This funding will cover remaining compensation payments and relief operations for severely affected households, as fiscal 2026 funds have been exhausted.