News item | 14-11-2022 | 09:12
As of November 15, 2022, the corona medicine Paxlovid will be reimbursed from the basic health insurance package. This was decided by Minister Ernst Kuipers (Public Health, Welfare and Sport) after a positive advice from the National Health Care Institute.
Minister Kuipers: “Paxlovid is known to be effective for a small group of patients. Corona still has a major social impact, especially on people with vulnerable health. That is why I am taking the advice of the Zorginstituut to reimburse Paxlovid from the basic insurance. Patients who need this drug can now also get it quickly.”
Limited audience
The drug Paxlovid consists of the substances nirmatrelvir and ritonavir and, according to the Zorginstituut, lowers the risk of hospitalization or serious illness in a vulnerable group of corona patients. It concerns people without antibodies against corona who at the same time have an increased risk due to other aspects of their health. Think of frail elderly or patients with serious heart or lung disease. In addition, it concerns people who have a severely reduced immune system and who are being treated by a medical specialist.
Paxlovid is only reimbursed from the basic package for people who belong to the above medical risk groups. The drug is only available with a prescription from the attending physician. Since the course must be started within 5 days of infection, it will be available on prescription through the community pharmacy. The course of treatment lasts 5 days and includes a total of 30 tablets.