KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry will supply at least 3,000 Paxlovid courses in preparation to treat pilgrims who may contract Covid-19 while performing the haj.

       Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said medical staff would assess patient suitability before prescribing the antiviral drug to pilgrims who have tested positive for Covid-19.

       “Apart from this antiviral, prevention measures and infection control will be increased to contain the spread of Covid-19, as well as other infectious diseases,” he said in a statement yesterday.

       Manufactured by Pfizer, Paxlovid is the latest Covid-19 treatment that was granted emergency use authorisation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last December for anyone aged 12 and older, who weighs at least 40kg and is at high risk of severe disease.

       Paxlovid is an antiviral pill that can be taken even in non-hospital settings to help keep high-risk patients from getting very sick to the extent they need to be hospitalised.

       In a Bernama report, Khairy said the government had approved RM5mil to fund health services for pilgrims this year, which includes the procurement of medicines and medical equipment as well as airfare and allowances for medical staff.