logo
Hong Kong gov't to stop providing free Covid-19 antiviral pills to private doctors from July 29

Hong Kong gov't to stop providing free Covid-19 antiviral pills to private doctors from July 29

HKFP18-07-2025
The Hong Kong government has announced that it will stop sponsoring private doctors to provide free Covid-19 oral antiviral pills from July 29, as the coronavirus disease 'has become a common respiratory viral infection.'
Free Covid-19 antiviral pills will only be provided at private clinics or hospitals on or before July 28, the government said on Thursday.
'COVID-19 has become a common respiratory viral infection. For the general public, symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infections are generally mild,' the government said.
With Covid-19 currently managed as an upper respiratory tract illness in Hong Kong, the need for the free antiviral pills has declined, it also said.
Private doctors should contact drug companies if they intend to provide patients with such pills, it added. Public hospitals will continue to prescribe Covid-19 antiviral drugs to patients with clinical needs.
HK$6,000 treatment
Hong Kong started supplying private doctors with two Covid-19 oral drugs, namely Paxlovid and Molnupiravir, free of charge in early 2022.
As of June 30, private doctors have prescribed 200,000 treatment courses to eligible Covid-19 confirmed patients for free, the government said on Thursday.
Each treatment course using antiviral pills costs over HK$6,000.
Meanwhile, the level of Covid-19 activity in Hong Kong reached its peak in mid-May following a surge in April, the government also said.
According to the Centre for Health Protection, as of July 16, the overall local activity of Covid-19 'has continuously decreased.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Tech and talent key to future of public hospitals: Ko
Tech and talent key to future of public hospitals: Ko

RTHK

time7 hours ago

  • RTHK

Tech and talent key to future of public hospitals: Ko

Tech and talent key to future of public hospitals: Ko Tony Ko says digital transformation will remain central to tackling rising healthcare demands. Photo: RTHK Outgoing Hospital Authority Chief Executive Tony Ko says new technology and a skilled workforce are key to the future of the public health system, as he reflected on his six years in the job. Ko was speaking to the media ahead of the end of his tenure on July 31, when he will be replaced by former Under Secretary for Health Libby Lee Ko said that advancing healthcare technology -- through initiatives like telehealth, Smart Hospital 2.0 and the clinical management system – was vital to better patient care and clinical service quality. He also said a few large projects were set to come onstream. "We have a few hospital projects already in place now, say the new Kwong Wah Hospital... and we have more projects coming up. We will soon have the new clinical blocks of Queen Mary Hospital and all the other things," he said. Ko said medical personnel had grown by over 10 percent and that more than 300 non-locally trained doctors were now serving in public hospitals. "We noticed that our manpower situation has actually much improved when compared to six years ago. "Not only we have a much lower attrition rate now, but also we are able to attract talent from different parts of the world, from overseas, from the mainland, literally making Hong Kong become an international medical talent hub." Ko, a geriatrician who steered the authority through the Covid outbreak, said Hong Kong has now faced two major pandemics - if the 2003 Sars outbreak is also included - and that that the authority is now well-prepared for any that may occur in future. After over 30 years' experience in the public health system, Ko described his role as fulfilling and rewarding. He said he now aims to pursue further education, possibly in history or music.

Hong Kong to add more district-level ‘care teams' as gov't set to renew service terms
Hong Kong to add more district-level ‘care teams' as gov't set to renew service terms

HKFP

time15 hours ago

  • HKFP

Hong Kong to add more district-level ‘care teams' as gov't set to renew service terms

Hong Kong is set to add three more district-level 'care teams' later this year, bringing the total number of government-sponsored community service groups to 455, the government has announced. The secretary for home and youth affairs, Alice Mak, said on Friday that the government would invite the organisations currently behind the existing 452 care teams to continue their services after their terms expire in late September and mid-October. Chief Executive John Lee announced the establishment of district-level care teams in his 2022 Policy Address, in a move to bolster the authorities' capacity in 'district governance.' A total of 452 teams began a two-year service period in 2023. The teams are required to make regular visits to elderly people and other residents in need, respond to emergencies such as extreme weather events, and promote national security in communities, according to the Home Affairs Department. On Friday, Mak praised the care teams for completing their services under the government's requirements. 'Care Teams in all sub-districts have nearly completed their services in accordance with the key performance indicators (KPIs). Some teams have even exceeded the requirements,' Mak said in a statement. She also announced that the government would make adjustments to the care teams' service boundaries due to factors like demographic changes in the sub-districts. Sha Ta in the North District will be split into two sub-districts due to its extensive area, while Sheung Shui Rural, also in the North District, and Hang Hau West, in the Sai Kung District, will each add a new team because of population growth, she said. Boundaries of six other sub-districts will also be 'fine-tuned,' she added. 'With these adjustments, the total number of Care Teams will increase from 452 to 455.' Last year, Lee announced that the government would regularise the funding and increase it by 50 per cent for care teams in the next term of service. As of June this year, the care teams had visited about 530,000 elderly households and other residents in need, provided about 76,000 times of support services, and organised about 38,000 district-level activities, according to official figures released on Friday. The work of the care teams came under the spotlight in January this year, after a student-made documentary found that some care teams sought to bolster numbers by inviting event participants to pose as volunteers for photos. District officers also rejected the student journalists' request for the care teams' financial and performance reports. Mak defended the non-disclosure at that time, saying it was 'appropriate' to provide the information only after the care teams had completed their service period. Each care team consists of eight to 12 members. Currently, each team receives government subsidies of around HK$800,000 to HK$1.2 million for a two-year term.

Pfizer, Chinese biotech firm 3SBio complete worldwide licensing deal for cancer drug
Pfizer, Chinese biotech firm 3SBio complete worldwide licensing deal for cancer drug

South China Morning Post

timea day ago

  • South China Morning Post

Pfizer, Chinese biotech firm 3SBio complete worldwide licensing deal for cancer drug

First announced in May, the deal will see 3SBio – based in Shenyang, capital of northeastern Liaoning province – receive a US$1.25 billion upfront payment from Pfizer for the exclusive right to sell its cancer drug, SSGJ-707, outside China. Under the terms of their agreement, Pfizer will also pay 3SBio up to US$150 million to solely develop and commercialise SSGJ-707 within the mainland, the two companies said on Thursday. Pfizer also agreed to buy 31.1 million new shares in S3Bio, or a 1.3 per cent equity stake, for HK$785 million, according to a stock exchange filing. The deal at HK$25.2055 per share represents a 17 per cent discount to its market price on Thursday. 3SBio's shares fell 6.41 per cent to HK$28.45 on Friday. The transaction reflected the strong momentum of Chinese biotech firms in the field of drugs research and the increased interest from major foreign pharmaceutical companies to license their intellectual property.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store