Starting Tomorrow, Prescriptions for Home Treatment Patients Can Be Filled at All Local Pharmacies

Paxlovid is available only at 472 designated pharmacies

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] Starting from the 16th, all local pharmacies will be able to dispense prescribed medications for home treatment patients, except for the oral COVID-19 antiviral treatment 'Paxlovid'.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced on the 15th that, while reviewing the transition status of the Omicron response system, they decided to expand the pharmacies responsible for dispensing and delivering prescribed medications for home treatment patients accordingly.

Until now, prescribed medications for home treatment patients were only dispensed at 472 designated pharmacies in cities, counties, and districts and delivered to confirmed patients' cohabiting family members. However, from the 16th, all local pharmacies will be able to dispense these medications. Nevertheless, the oral COVID-19 treatment Paxlovid will still only be available at designated pharmacies.

Park Hyang, head of the Central Accident Response Headquarters' quarantine team, explained, "Starting tomorrow, medications available at local pharmacies will include prescribed drugs for COVID-19 symptoms and medications for other treatments," adding, "Paxlovid will still only be available at designated pharmacies."

Due to the rapid increase in mild and asymptomatic home treatment patients caused by the spread of the Omicron variant, the quarantine authorities have classified high-risk groups such as those aged 60 and above as 'intensive management groups' and others as 'general management groups' since the 10th. Only the intensive management group receives health monitoring twice daily. As of midnight on this day, there are 676 medical institutions capable of conducting health monitoring calls for approximately 200,000 people.

Among home treatment patients, the general management group can receive medical consultations and prescriptions via phone from local clinics and hospitals if symptoms worsen. As of this day, the total number of local clinics and hospitals available for general management group consultations is 4,239, an increase of 314 from 3,925 as of the 11th.

A total of 199 home treatment medical consultation centers are available for the general management group to consult about their health status by phone 24 hours a day. Additionally, there are 74 outpatient treatment centers nationwide where the general management group can meet medical staff directly for tests, treatments, and surgeries. Emergency beds prepared for pediatric confirmed cases are also available in 14 medical institutions in the metropolitan area, totaling 135 beds.

Furthermore, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters stated that 220 home treatment administrative guidance centers are operating to respond to administrative inquiries such as home treatment lifestyle guidance and quarantine release dates. According to the headquarters, on the 13th, there were a total of 9,885 medical consultation cases and 18,310 administrative guidance consultations for COVID-19 home treatment patients.

Information on home treatment patient phone consultation and prescription medical institutions, designated pharmacies, and short-term outpatient centers can be found on the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service website and some local government websites.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.