Rural doctors want end to govt monopoly on antiviral drugsThe Rural Doctors Society wants an end to the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation's monopoly on favipiravir and two other antiviral drugs, molnupiravir and paxlovid. (Photo: Komsan Jandamit)The Rural Doctors Society (RDS) wants the government to end its monopoly on antiviral drugs, to ensure the country has enough to treat Covid-19 patients and bring down the price. The RDS has proposed that the monopolies on favipiravir, molnupiravir and paxlovid be scrapped and the private sector be allowed to import these antiviral drugs. The monopoly was later extended to cover molnupiravir and paxlovid, resulting in a shortage of antiviral drugs to fight the coronavirus disease. "In fact, there is no global shortage of the antiviral drugs, but Thailand is facing a shortage because of monopolies," The RDS said.
