'Kung hayop ka, 'di uminom ka,' quips Binay as gov't yet to allow Ivermectin for human use | Inquirer News

‘Kung hayop ka, ‘di uminom ka,’ quips Binay as gov’t yet to allow Ivermectin for human use

By: - Reporter / @KAguilarINQ
/ 11:59 AM April 23, 2021

'Kung hayop ka, 'di uminom ka,' quips Binay as gov't yet to allow Ivermectin for human use

TO USE OR NOT TO USE A number of physicians swear by the
effectiveness of ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug commercially
available only for veterinary use, as a treatment or preventive
medicine against COVID-19. But the Food and Drug Administration maintains
there are procedures to be followed, including clinical
trials, before the drug could be allowed for distribution. —AFP

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Nancy Binay on Friday joked about the use of anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin by humans as debates continue about whether the medicine currently allowed in the country for animal consumption should be used for COVID-19 treatment.

“Nakakatakot kasi ‘yung available lang dito sa Philippines ‘yung animal grade. Wala pang kumbaga approved ‘yung human-grade na ivermectin,” Binay said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel when asked if she was willing to take Ivermectin.

Article continues after this advertisement

(It’s scary because the only thing available in the Philippines is the animal grade. No human-grade Ivermectin has been approved yet.)

FEATURED STORIES

“May biruan nga eh, ‘pag may nagtatanong sa akin kung magte-take, ‘I guess kung hayop ka, eh ‘di uminom ka’,” she quipped.

(There’s a joke going around, so when someone asks me if I will take it, ‘I guess if you’re an animal, then maybe you should take it’.)

Article continues after this advertisement

In the Philippines, all current Ivermectin products registered are only for veterinary use, to treat external parasites and prevent heartworm diseases in animals.

Article continues after this advertisement

Kidding aside, Binay said she would wait for scientific evidence given there’s already a lot of clinical trials being conducted worldwide on the use of Ivermectin to treat COVID-19.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Ako, number one (first of all), with this COVID problem, we should always follow the science. If the science say na (that) it does not work, why do we need to take it? ‘Pag sinabi naman (If it says), it can help, it can treat then let’s go ahead and use this product,” Binay said.

Even the World Health Organization said it is not advocating the use of Ivermectin in the absence of statistically relevant evidence of its effectiveness against COVID-19.

Article continues after this advertisement

Meanwhile, the country’s own Department of Science and Technology said it will also conduct clinical trials to determine if Ivermectin is effective in treating COVID-19 patients.

KGA
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.
What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.

The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare frontliners and is still accepting cash donations to be deposited at Banco de Oro (BDO) current account #007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this link.

TAGS: COVID-19, FDA, Ivermectin, Nancy Binay

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.