The national Department of Health says South Africa is in a "favourable" position to immediately roll out dexamethasone to all seriously ill Covid-19 patients.
"Dexamethasone was found to reduce mortality by one third in patients who require ventilatory support and by one fifth in patients who require non-invasive supplementary oxygen.
Our healthcare workers are very familiar with dexamethasone, having used it for decades as a registered medicine in South Africa.
"We are immediately able to offer all patients who need intravenous dexamethasone.
Our Ministerial Advisory Committee on Covid-19 issued an advisory to recommend the use of dexamethasone for all patients on ventilators or requiring non-invasive supplementary oxygen," Mkhize said.
