DOH reiterates dangers of unregistered drugs amid Defensor’s push for ivermectin

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday reiterated that the use of unregistered drugs is not safe after Anakalusugan Party-list Representative Mike Defensor announced he would distribute ivermectin to treat patients with COVID-19.

Interviewed on Dobol B TV, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire pointed out the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin is not yet registered and is still subject to the evaluation of the Food and Drug Administration.

“Gusto natin bigyan ng babala ang ating mga kababayan ang mga unregistered drugs po ay hindi masisiguro ng ating gobyerno na ito ay ligtas at maproprotektahan sila dito sa sakit na sinasabi natin na paggagamitan nito,” she said.

(We want to caution the public that the government cannot assure that unregistered drugs are safe and can give protection from the disease.)

Vergeire made the statement when asked for comment regarding Defensor’s Facebook post on Monday announcing that he would distribute ivermectin.

Defensor said those with comorbidities and senior citizens would be prioritized while the supply was limited.

"Magpadala ng private message sa itong Facebook Page: Malayang Quezon City upang makuha ang kumpletong detalye para makakuha ng ivermectin," he said.

(Please send a private message to Malayang Quezon City Facebook page to get complete details for getting ivermectin.)

Vergeire said they had a meeting last week with the proponents of ivermectin’s use for COVID-19 including Defensor. More supporting data for ivermectin were given to the DOH.

Due to this, the DOH conducted another review of the drug, she said.

On Monday, the DOH and FDA stood firm in their position discouraging the use of ivermectin on COVID-19 patients amid calls for them to authorize the antiparasitic drug.

They said said a study of six trials by reviewers from the Philippine COVID-19 Living Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) found that the drug did not significantly reduce the risk of mortality among COVID-19 patients.

Ivermectin was not associated with a definite benefit of other clinically important outcomes such as clinical improvement at Day 6-10, clinical deterioration, and need for mechanical ventilation, they added.

Also, the agencies said ivermectin did not significantly reduce the duration of hospitalization and the time to resolution of symptoms.

The World Health Organization also discourages the use of ivermectin on COVID-19 patients.

Vergeire pointed out the danger of false sense of security among Filipinos who will use the drug as a protection from COVID-19.

Asked about the possible sanction for the Defensor, Vergeire said that the FDA is already looking into it.

Defensor on Tuesday said he is not doing anything illegal with pushing for the use of ivermectin against COVID-19.

The lawmaker said he has been obtaining ivermectin from legal compounding laboratories. He also emphasized that a doctor's prescription is still needed to use this drug. —KG, GMA News