Early COVID-19 treatments

Although there is no cure for COVID-19, early treatments have been developed that are proving to be effective for people with COVID-19 who also have other health conditions.

Because these other conditions can increase your risk of becoming very sick, it is important that treatment is started within the first few days of being infected. Learn more about these early COVID-19 treatments below.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible for early COVID-19 treatments, you must be:

COVID-19 positive (RAT or PCR) AND
Within 7 days of the onset of symptoms AND
Be over 65 or immunosuppressed

Please note: The eligibility criteria is based on guidance provided by the Department of Health and is subject to change.

How to access treatment?

Please ask your GP for an urgent telehealth appointment regarding COVID treatment as early as possible after your positive COVID test.

Where is treatment provided?

The Monash Satellite Clinic provides early treatments for COVID-19 positive patients.

If you have been prescribed Remdesivir, you will receive treatment at this clinic.

The clinic is located in Moorabbin Hospital, 823-865 Center Road, Bentleigh East VIC 3165.

It is open from 9am to 4pm, with a referral and by appointment only.

Attending the clinic for treatment

Getting to and from the clinic

You or someone else who lives in your house can drive you to the clinic.
If a household member drives you they cannot get out of the car and cannot come into the clinic.
We can arrange transport if you cannot get to the clinic by yourself or with someone you live with.
You cannot use public transport to come to the clinic.
You cannot use a taxi or UBER to come to the clinic.
There is free patient parking outside the clinic.
Come in through the main door.
Please stay in your car until the time of your appointment.

What to do before coming to the clinic?

If you have done a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), please register your positive result here. This will link you to the Department of Health so your illness can be monitored.
Let us know if your circumstances change, you become more unwell or cannot come to the appointment.
If you need urgent medical care, please contact your GP or doctor or call 000 for emergencies.

Your appointment

Your appointment will take up to 2 hours. Make sure you allow enough time.
You will be given an appointment time. Please be on time so you do not lose your booking.
You must wear a face mask at all times. We will give you a new mask when you arrive.
When you arrive we will check again to make sure this treatment is suitable. If it is not, we will not go ahead with this treatment.
This treatment must be given within 5 days of becoming infected. Because of high demand, we may not be able to reschedule you in time if you postpone or cancel your appointment.

Once you leave the clinic

When your treatment and monitoring are over, you will be discharged to complete your isolation period as directed by the Department of Health.
If you are worried or have any questions, please contact:
- the team who are providing your COVID-19 care (GP, doctor or local COVID Positive Care Pathway) or
- call the COVID-19 hotline on 1800 675 398.

Referral information for health professionals

Information for GPs

Monash Health accepts internal referrals from physicians/registrars or Monash Health emergency departments for Remdesivir to the HITH Satellite Clinic.

We do not currently accept external referrals for IV remdesivir treatment.

Referral for Remdesivir

Doctors from Monash Health (and our Monash Health Emergency Department) can refer patients directly for treatment with IV Remdesivir over three days.

To be treated with IV Remdesivir through our Hospital in the Home (HiTH) service, patients must:

Live in Monash Health Catchment area
Be a patient of a Monash Health Clinic (eg transplant or haematology/oncology)
Have no history of Chronic Liver Disease or Cirrhosis
Have an eGFR >30 or on dialysis
Have a consent and treatment plan documented in SMR
Be ambulant and continent
Not live in an aged care facility

Please assess patients against the National Stockpile Criteria.

Please note: there will be no further medical review of the patients after the referral has been received. The referring clinician is responsible for ensuring that the patient cannot have Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir therapies and that Remdesivir is not contraindicated.

Online referral form for Remdesivir

Please complete the online form