Senator Aquilino Pimentel III on Wednesday, April 7, said the Philippines should allow the use of authentic, human-grade Ivermectin.
(Rio Leonelle Deluvio / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
"So Filipinos can have access to this medicine for the purposes it was created," said Pimentel, as he joined the debates on whether or not Ivermectin is safe or not for individuals suffering from novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
" a medication used to treat many types of parasite infestations especially in the stomach. We should have access to this med!’’ he said on Twitter.
Some lawmakers and doctors are pushing the use of Ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment, as well as a prevention. But the Department of Health, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as the World Health Organization, said studies and clinical trials have yet to prove its efficacy and safety in treating viral infections in humans.
At present, Ivermectin is registered in the country as an anti-parasitic drug for animals and only as topical formulation for external parasites and skin conditions of humans.
Senator Christopher ‘’Bong’’ Go had said that President Duterte already asked FDA Director General Eric Domingo to thoroughly assess and validate claims on the use of Ivermectin against COVID-19.
In a television interview, Domingo said regulators would evaluate human grade Ivermectin when data are completed.
He said the FDA could not approve drugs not solidly backed by scientific data.
Domingo added that the regulatory agency does not consider testimonials as strong scientific evidence.