The Ministry of Public Health wants to buy two types of oral antiviral medicines to fight Covid-19.

Dr Atthasit Srisubat of the Department of Medical Services said on Monday the ministry is expected to propose to the cabinet its planned procurement of US-made Molnupiravir for approval on Tuesday.

"If approved, the drug is likely to be delivered in late December or January next year," he said.

Dr Atthasit said the ministry will also talk with Pfizer on Friday over procurement of another Covid-19 antiviral medicine, Paxlovid.

Dr Atthasit said the two oral antiviral drugs have been found to cut the risk of hospitalisation among Covid-19 patients. Both drugs work by preventing the virus from multiplying and thus reducing the severity of infection. They are effective against mild or moderate Covid-19 symptoms and in vulnerable groups.

Dr Atthasit also shared the trial results for both drugs on Covid-19 patients.

For the Molnupiravir trial, pills were given to 385 people twice a day, for five days. About 50% of those who received Molnupiravir did not require hospitalisation and none of them died.

As for Paxlovid which was taken alongside Ritonavir, it was given to 389 people twice a day. About 89% of those who received Paxlovid and Ritonavir were not hospitalised if they were given the drugs within three days of the onset of Covid-19 symptoms.

There were no deaths in the group that received Paxlovid and Ritonavir.