As the debate on its effectiveness in treating coronavirus (COVID-19) continues, President Duterte has decided to leave the use of antiparasitic drug ivermectin to the discretion of doctors and patients.
Duterte made the statement as the clinical studies on ivermectin as a cure for COVID-19 continue worldwide.
In his pre-recorded public address aired Saturday morning, September 11, the President recognized that some sectors continue to claim that ivermectin works as a cure for COVID-19. However, he said no medical journal has been published to prove the claims.
"The problem is it is not clear. Nobody has published a journal-- a medical journal which the doctors rely on-- na magsasabi na (that would say that) all of these tests were conducted and the result is what is being laid down here," he said.
"Everything is a quandary... There is no actual definite finding na ma-publish lang naman miski sa medical journals ng mga doktor na masabi natin na pwede na ito (that is published in medical journals that would tell us that it's okay to use it)," he added.
President Duterte said despite this, he cannot force people to stop taking the drug. He decided to leave it to the discretion of doctors and their patients.
"I leave it really to patient-doctor relationship. If the doctor believes in good faith that it can help and the patient also believes in his heart that he will get well, we leave it up to you to decide," he said.
"Kasi mahirap naman masisi na kung totoo namang effective tapos pipigilan mo (Because it's hard to be blamed if it turned out to be really effective then you stop them)," he added.
The President, however, said he would remain guided by government doctors.
"Since I am a worker of government, I rely on the work and the narratives of government doctors so I am bound by what they say. Hindi masyado ako pwedeng magsalita ditong ivermectin (I cannot really say anything so much about ivermectin)," he said.
"If both doctor and patient believe that it can help, that it will produce results, then sa inyo na ho 'yan (that's up to you). I leave it up to your good ano ninyo-- discernment kung tama ba (discernment if you think it is the right thing to do)," he added.
In June, President Duterte wanted the speedy completion of the study on the efficacy of ivermectin because many people have been waiting for it. The clinical studies in the country started last month.