Cwestiwn ysgrifenedig WQ84438

Details of the availability of COVID-19 treatments for non-hospitalised patients can be found on our website at https://gov.wales/covid-19-treatments. The antiviral medicine molnupiravir and the neutralising monoclonal antibody combination treatment casirivimab and imdevimab, have been in use in Wales since 16 December. In line with the UK wide clinical access policy, a second neutralising monoclonal antibody treatment sotrovimab, replaced casirivimab and imdevimab as first line treatment of COVID-19 for non-hospitalised patients on 24 December. A second antiviral medicine nirmatrelavir/ritonavir will be available from 10 February.

Treatment is currently available only to those at particularly high risk from COVID-19 and we have established a National Antiviral Service hosted by the Welsh Medicines Information Centre, to ensure people who test positive for COVID-19 are appropriately assessed and treated. Between 16 December and 30 January, information provided by health boards and the National Antiviral Service indicate 339 individuals have received treatment with sotrovimab, 13 have received casirivimab and imdevimab, and a further 210 have received molnupiravir.

Where people in the eligible group are symptomatic and test positive for COVID-19, Digital Health and Care have put in place systems to provide this information to the National Antiviral Service within 24 hours of the lateral flow or PCR test being reported. Following assessment, eligible patients will receive a next day delivery of the appropriate oral antiviral medicine or be invited to attend one their local health board’s treatment centres for intravenous treatment with sotrovimab. Appointments are usually offered on the same or next day. All treatments are offered within the required five day treatment window.