Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2021
808. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the existence of specific antiviral treatment for Covid-19 or any other treatment currently undergoing trials or in respect of which trials have been completed; if it is planned for this medicine to be procured under Ireland’s participation in the European Commission joint procurement agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44886/20]
View answerOfficials in my Department have requested clarification from the Deputy's office regarding the specific antiviral treatment referred to in this question. Once this clarification is provided, a more detailed response will be issued directly to the Deputy.
To date, the European Medicines Agency has approved two medicines, dexamethasone and remdesivir, for the treatment of patients with Covid-19. Ireland is participating in the European Commission's joint procurement for remdesivir, and has received supplies of remdesivir under this mechanism. National guidance has been in place since March 2020 on the use of remdesivir in Irish hospitals for the treatment of Covid-19. Ireland also continues to support the WHO Solidarity Trial, an international clinical trial launched by the World Health Organization and partners to help find an effective treatment for COVID-19.
