The Hainan Provincial Medical Security Bureau has issued a notice on the temporary coverage of Azvudine in the province's medical insurance fund. The Notice stated that starting from August 9, 2022, the oral medication Azvudine, which was included in the Diagnosis and Treatment Plan (Ninth Edition) for COVID-19 treatment by the National Health and Health Commission, is also temporarily covered by the medical insurance fund of Hainan Province. It will be covered in accordance with the Class A drug policy.

Photo by VCG.

The Notice states that all drugs included in the diagnosis and treatment plan of COVID-19 can also be temporarily covered by medical insurance.

The Hainan Provincial Public Resource Trading Service Center should add the new drugs to their website in a timely manner, and the medical insurance system should adjust and maintain their information system regularly. Public medical institutions must purchase and sell these drugs without added fees.

Azvudine is China's first domestically developed oral medication for COVID-19 treatment, and is also a globally patented 1.1 class oral anti-coronavirus small molecule medication approved in China.

Azvudine is used for the treatment of adult patients with typical ases of COVID-19. One whole 5 milligram tablet should be taken on an empty stomach once a day, and the course of treatment should not exceed 14 days.

Azvudine bottles, produced by Henan's Genuine Biotech Limited, contain 35 one-milligram tablets each. The price per bottle has been set at 270 yuan (40 USD) per bottle, which will help ensure more Chinese families have access to COVID-19 treatment.

Sources of information: New Hainan App, Global Times, China Daily.