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Alliance of 41 healthcare groups urge public to shun ivermectin
There is no assurance that ivermectin distributed or sold in various channels is authentic or effective since the antiparasitic drug has not been registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a broad alliance of healthcare professionals said on Wednesday.
The Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 (HPAAC), composed of of 41 organizations, urged the public to refrain from buying and using ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19.
“Huwag muna nating tangkilikin ang ivermectin upang makaiwas sa karagdagang perwisyo sa kalusugan,” the alliance said.
[Let’s not patronize ivermectin for now to protect our health]
“Paalala din namin na walang katiyakan kung peke o mabisa ang kumakalat na ivermectin sa ngayon dahil sa mga paglabag nito sa mga FDA regulatory processes,” it added.
[We also remind that there is no certainty if ivermectin is fake or effective since it violated FDA regulatory processes.]
- Alliance for Improving Health Outcomes
- Asia Pacific Center for Evidence Based Health Care
- Child Neurology Society, Phils.
- Kalusugan ng Mag-Ina
- Navotas Health Department
- Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Society of the Philippines
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society of the Philippines
- Pediatric Nephrology Society of the Philippines
- Philippine Academy of Occupational Therapists
- Philippine Academy of Pediatric Pulmonologists
- Philippine Academy of Physicians in School Health
- Philippine Ambulatory Pediatric Association
- Philippine Association of Medical Journal Editors
- Philippine Association of Nutrition
- Philippine College of Emergency Medicine
- Philippine College of Physicians
- Philippine College of Occupational Medicine
- Philippine Dermatological Society
- Philippine General Hospital Physicians' Association
- Philippine Hospital Infection Control Society
- Philippine League Against Epilepsy
- Philippine Neurological Association
- Philippine Pediatric Dental Society
- Philippine Pediatric Society
- Philippine Pharmacists Association
- Philippine Physical Therapy Association
- Philippine Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
- Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
- Philippine Society of Pediatric Cardiology
- Philippine Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
- Philippine Society for Reproductive Medicine
- Philippine Society of Allergy Asthma & Immunology
- Philippine Society of Clinical and Occupational Toxicology
- Philippine Society Of General Internal Medicine
- Philippine Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Philippine Society of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
- Philippine Society of Nephrology
- Philippine Society of Newborn Medicine
- Philippine Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
- Philippine Society of Public Health Physicians
- Society of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine of the Philippines
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The HPAAC also echoed the call of Filipino pharmacists for the mass distribution of ivermectin to be investigated by the FDA, Department of Health (DOH), and Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) as a possible violation of the Pharmacy Act.
The DOH earlier forwarded to the PRC reports of doctors who issued ivermectin prescriptions on a sheet of paper and not on a prescription pad.
The prescriptions were issued by members of the group Concerned Doctors and Citizens PH for an ivermectin distribution project of two lawmakers who are not medical professionals.
A group of medical experts composed of medical societies, the DOH, and the FDA have stressed that the “very low quality of evidence” do not currently support the use of ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment.
The World Health Organization, US FDA, European Medicines Agency, and ivermectin manufacturer Merck also do not advise the use of ivermectin on COVID-19 patients based on current evidence.
A local clinical trial for ivermectin is expected to begin this month in a bid to gather more data. —NB, GMA News