MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) need to be more proactive and study the safety and efficacy of ivermectin for COVID-19 prevention and treatment, according to speaker Lord Allan Velasco.
In a statement, Velasco said the Philippines was “desperate for a cure” and that the government should inform the public about all options to prevent and treat the disease currently plaguing the capital region and neighboring provinces.
“With cases increasing and more people dying, regulators should find it necessary to look at the safety and efficacy of ivermectin and other reusable medicines for COVID-19. approach. Humans need alternative medicine to prevent or treat COVID-19. ”
Survivors
Deputy Speaker and Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera, 1 Pacman rep. Enrico Pineda and Anakalusugan-rep. Michael Defensor is campaigning for the use of COVID-19 treatment.
Pineda and Defensor are both survivors of COVID-19. Defensor said he took ivermectin along with vitamins and supplements during his home quarantine.
Earlier, the FDA closed the laboratory of Dr. Allan Landrito, who had been compiling ivermectin, for sale to COVID-19 patients.
At the Home Trial, the FDA said it would discuss with drug manufacturers how pending applications for ivermectin as a treatment with COVID-19 can be detected quickly.
The DOH said more scientific evidence is needed to prove the drug’s effectiveness against the virus.
But Herrera reiterates the view of advocates for ivermectin that it is a cheap and effective alternative medicine to COVID-19 and that it can “dramatically reduce deaths”. She said the FDA as a regulatory agency should keep an open mind about ivermectin because it is much cheaper than other drugs currently used to treat COVID-19.
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For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
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