THE Ministry of Health is looking to use some other drugs, aside from Baricitinib to treat Covid-19 patients, said deputy director-general (research and technical support) Dr Hishamshah Mohd Ibrahim.

Speaking at the national recovery summit dialogue session today, Hishamshah said these drugs will add to the number of drugs that are being used to treat Covid-19 patients in the serious categories.

“It remains a challenge to us, but Malaysia has been actively involved in many clinical trials for the treatment of Covid-19 and has participated in the World Health Organization solidarity trial for Covid-19 treatments.

“We are also now using Baricitinib, a new drug, and we are looking into some other drugs, which probably are going to get emergency use authorisation approval soon, as we are discussing the matter with the manufacturers,” he said at the virtual event.

Hishamshah said the ministry is also looking at ways to make the Covid-19 antigen rapid test kit available to B40 groups.

Earlier today, Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz also said the government would further revise the price of self-test kits by the end of this year to make them accessible to everyone.

Last week, the government set the retail ceiling price for the kit at RM19.90 per set and RM16 per set for a wholesale price, effective September 5. – Bernama, September 9, 2021.