The Food and Drug Administration central office
MANILA, Philippines — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will lead operations against the illegal trade of anti-parasitic drug ivermectin for animal use being repackaged as fit for humans, Malacañang said Wednesday.
“To ensure the safety and welfare of the public and at the same time avoid any unnecessary conflicts, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been directed to take the lead in determining the course of action against the illegal trading/dispensing of Ivermectin,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.
Roque added the Philippine National Police “cannot arbitrarily determine on their own which drug/s should not be on the market” hence all operations on the crackdown against illegal sale of ivermectin must be coordinated with the FDA.
(AFP)
“The Palace further underscores what is being ordered to stop is the sale/trade of ivermectin for veterinary use that has been repackaged as human grade, including those that have not been determined by competent authorities as safe to be used in humans,” Roque said.
“Having said this, we advise the public to seek the advice of medical practitioners before taking medicines and/or supplements,” he added.
Roque further said President Rodrigo Duterte is monitoring developments on ivermectin in the country and abroad.
“He has even directed the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) to give him weekly updates on ivermectin studies and FDA-related clearance,” Roque said.
The use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19 recently sparked debate among medical practitioners. Currently, it is only commercially available in the Philippines in veterinary grade or for animal use.
The Department of Science and Technology said it will conduct clinical trials to determine if ivermectin is effective in treating COVID-19 patients.