There are claims that Covid patients have been left waiting for antiviral treatments because Pharmac has been too slow signing a supply contract.
But in a statement to Local Deocracy reporting, the government drug buying agency says despite the drugs being approved for use this month, it is the sheer demand for the medicine globally that is holding up delivery.
At the moment there are not any antivirals that GPs can prescribe for Covid in the community and they're currently only used once someone is in hospital.
Patient Voice Aotearoa is sceptical. Spokesperson Malcolm Mulholland talks to Lisa Owen.
