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Written question asked by Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party) on Tuesday, 1 February 2022, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 3 February 2022. It was answered by Maggie Throup (Conservative) on Wednesday, 9 February 2022 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.


Coronavirus: Drugs

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on the availability of the Pfizer pill for covid-19 on the NHS.

Answer

An updated interim clinical commissioning policy on the use of neutralising monoclonal antibody treatments and antivirals for non-hospitalised patients with COVID-19 was agreed by the United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers on 27 January 2022. This set out the intention to add PF-07321332+ritonavir (co-packaged as Paxlovid), manufactured by Pfizer, and remdesivir to the currently available treatment options for highest risk patients with COVID-19 from 10 February 2022.

NHS England has held webinars with stakeholders such as patient organisations, Royal Colleges, professional bodies and clinicians to support the introduction of the interim commissioning policy, with further engagement events and communications planned. Any decisions on deployment of community treatments, including Paxlovid, beyond the highest risk groups will be subject to the outcomes of the PANORAMIC study.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
115906
Session
2021-22
Subjects
Drugs Pfizer Coronavirus
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk