Duterte-Carpio cautions public vs Ivermectin as Covid-19 treatment

Photo by Associated Press
Photo by Associated Press

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio cautioned the public on the use of Ivermectin due to its lack of clinical proof as an effective cure against coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Duterte-Carpio said in a radio interview that she respects Covid-19 patients who will resort to using Ivermectin, but she urged not to recommend it as it is still not a proven treatment for the disease.

"We respect the decision of the people nga mag-resort (that resort) to taking Ivermectin for prophylaxis and sa tan-aw nila makatabang ug makapaayo sa ila kung Covid[-19] positive sila (and if they think it will help and treat them from Covid-19). But we request nga dili nila i-endorse or ireseta ang produkto sa ilahang mga kaila, [ug] pamilya (not to endorse or prescribe this protect to their friends, and family)," the mayor said on Monday, May 3, in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

She added, "Because Ivermectin has not yet been proven to cure Covid-19 [and] provide prophylaxis nga di ka matakdan og Covid-19 kung muinom ka og (that you won’t be infected with Covid-19 when you take) ivermectin."

The mayor said only authorized agencies such as the World Health Organization, Department of Health (DOH), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and doctors, particularly infectious disease specialists, can recommend medications for Covid-19 patients.

She also discouraged individuals who have not tested positive for the virus from taking Ivermectin as a preventive drug since there are still no proven studies from any research and medical studies that it can make any person immune from the disease.

"Remember nga kadaghanan sa atong mga kaigsuunang Dabawenyo nga naga positive nga asymptomatic, wala na na sila ginainom na tambal. Ang ginabuhat na lang sa ilaha is ginapa-isolate sa atong (many Dabawenyos who tested positive and are asymptomatic do not take any medication. They are only isolated in our) quarantine facility for 10 days, and four days home quarantine," Duterte-Carpio said.

Meanwhile, she reminded those experiencing influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms such as cough and fever (38 degrees Celsius) and must manifest symptoms for the past 10 days, to go to their nearest swabbing center for them to be tested.

She also advised them to seek medical attention from their respective doctors if they are experiencing flu-like symptoms.

According to FDA, Ivermectin is approved in the Philippines as an anti-parasitic treatment for animals. It is not approved for commercial distribution as Covid-19 treatment.

FDA Director General Eric Domingo said it is currently approved for compassionate special permit use only in selected hospitals in the country.

DOH Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire stressed that the compassionate special permit is not the same as a Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) for drug products.

"This is not a form of registration of medicines. This means you still cannot distribute, sell, or even market these kinds of medicines (with CSP)," Vergeire said.

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