The Ministry of Public Health expects to seal a deal with Pfizer to buy the antiviral Covid-19 treatment Paxlovid sometime in the next week.
Pfizer on Friday informed the ministry of the price and asked about the quantity required, said Dr Somsak Akksilp, director-general of the Department of Medical Services.
He was speaking after a meeting with representatives from the country.
The price will not be revealed to the public, although the ministry has indicated the size of its purchase. The proposal has been approved by Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, said Dr Somsak.
The ministry told the Pfizer representatives that Thailand urgently needs the drug and requested the first delivery in the first quarter of next year, he said.
The procurement contract is expected to be signed in the coming week, he said.
A contract to procure molnupiravir, an oral antiviral treatment for Covid-19 by Merck, is expected to be signed next week.
As Thailand prepares for life with Covid-19, the ministry is stockpiling medication and accelerating vaccinations.
In related news, the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) said another 1.4 million doses of the Moderna vaccine are expected to arrive later this month. The first 560,000 doses arrived on Nov 1.