Finance minister: Government to fund manufacturing of coronavirus pharmaceuticals

The plant, built from a 1.6 billion (EUR 4.6m) forint investment, will produce an interferon-based gel designed to activate the immune system supressed by the virus, and a pill with the same active substance to eliminate coronavirus in the stomach and intestines.

In a video message posted on Facebook on Thursday, Varga said a growing number of domestically produced, high-quality health-care products ensure Hungary’s independence from foreign manufacturers.

The government’s health-care development scheme has already yielded results, Varga said. The Health Industry Development Programme has so far supported 82 investments worth a total of 86 billion forints (EUR 246.0m), 31 of which, totalling at 37 billion forints, have already been implemented, he said. The number of jobs saved by the investments may reach 5,700, he said.