The South Korean government is allowing national health insurance benefits for patients who receive anti-HIV drugs to treat a novel coronavirus infection.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced a revision to related critera on Tuesday.
Those confirmed or suspected to be infected with the novel coronavirus are covered to receive Interferon, an antiviral medication, and Kaletra, an anti-HIV combo drug, for 10 to 14 days or longer, if needed.
The ministry said the move aims to support prompt treatment in order to contain the outbreak, despite the lack of data on the study of the new virus.
The medical team at Seoul National University Hospital that treated the first coronavirus case in the country said HIV drugs helped reduce the patient's fever and other symptoms.
The drugs are still being tested as a coronavirus treatment and have yet to be approved.
Combinations of anti-retroviral drugs are also being used in China, Thailand and the United States to try and help infected patients.■
<Photo: Yonhap News>
