Private doctors who have registered under the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (eHRSS) can make requests for the two antivirals Paxlovid and Molnupiravir for COVID-19 patients via a dedicated electronic platform from this evening.

The Department of Health today issued a letter to private doctors registered under the eHRSS informing them of the arrangement.

The Government announced on April 2 that it would gradually provide free COVID-19 oral drugs to private doctors for prescribing them to suitable COVID-19 patients to reduce the risk of deterioration of their clinical conditions.

To keep track of the prescriptions, private doctors should have registered under the eHRSS.

After making the requests on the platform, the order will be distributed to their selected practice address that is registered with the eHRSS.

The distributor will process the requests as far as possible on the following working day for those made before 4pm during weekdays.

A maximum of 10 standard courses of treatments for each antiviral is allowed on each order request.

Allocation of the antivirals will be subject to availability and usage of the drugs under the doctor's account.

Private doctors have to follow the treatment guidelines set out by the Hospital Authority and should not charge patients any fees for the COVID-19 oral drugs.