Taguig Mayor Cayetano on ivermectin use for COVID-19: We will only follow health experts
Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano said the city government will only follow the advice of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the use of the antiparasitic drug ivermectin to treat coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients.

The DOH and FDA do not recommend ivermectin for COVID-19, saying it is not approved for treatment of viral infections.
“We listen to the medical experts. If the time comes that it will be approved by the FDA, Department of Health, if I hear from the mouth of our Usec , from our Secretary of Health, by all means, we will not just support it, we will advocate it, we will buy it,” said Cayetano during the DOH Beat COVID-19 Media Forum held online on Friday.
He added, “But at present, when it comes to any medicine, the mayors listen to the doctors and experts. In terms of how the LGUs feel about ivermectin, I’m sure we all have personal opinions.”
When it comes to the use of ivermectin for COVID-19 patients, he said “we leave it to the experts. What the FDA says and what the Department of Health says, we will accept, we will abide (with), and we will follow.”
Last month, the FDA issued an advisory for the public “against the purchase and use of Ivermectin veterinary products against COVID-19.”
“Currently, the registered Ivermectin products in the country for human use are in topical formulations under prescription use only. This is used for the treatment of external parasites such as head lice and skin conditions such as rosacea,” it said.
The FDA said “the registered oral and intravenous preparations of Ivermectin are veterinary products which are approved for use in animals for the prevention of heartworm disease and treatment of internal and external parasites in certain animal species.”
“The public is warned against taking animal drugs, as the FDA has only evaluated their safety and efficacy in the particular species for which they are labeled. Using these products in humans can cause serious harm. Animal drugs are often highly concentrated and can be highly toxic to humans,” it added.
As of April 28, Taguig has 20,922 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 299 of which are active, 20,403 recoveries, and 220 deaths.