Favipiravir drug now optional in Covid-19 treatment in Turkey

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Turkey will introduce new methods of treatment to curb the coronavirus pandemic, Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca announced yesterday (November 24).

The use of favipiravir will now be decided by doctors according to clinical conditions of the patient, Koca said in a written statement after a meeting with the ministry's Scientific Advisory Board.

Favipiravir is an antiviral medicine used to treat influenza. Turkey has been prescribing it to coronavirus patients since March 2020.

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"We bought and stored one million packs of this drug even before a [Covid-19] case was seen [in Turkey]. No country uses Favipiravir, which is brought from China, with an approach like ours," Koca had said at the time.

The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) has questioned the efficacy of the drug in Covid-19 treatment, calling on the ministry to disclose data regarding its use.

"It was clearly demonstrated that the drug has no significant side effects," Koca said in yesterday's statement. "Also, it is seen in our data that it shortens the duration of symptoms in mild and moderate cases."

They made the new decision on the use of Favipiravir in accordance with the real-world data, Koca noted.

Molnupiravir

The ministry added the Molnupiravir drug to its treatment guidelines, Koca further stated.

As soon as it is procured, it will be applied to suitable patient groups, said the minister. (KÖ/VK)