Ivermectin not effective in treating COVID-19, says DOH citing latest study

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MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) cited on Friday a study published by a US-based journal stating that ivermectin is “not a viable option” to treat COVID-19 patients.

The Clinical Infectious Diseases, the official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, concluded in its study that “in comparison to SOC (standard of care) or placebo, IVM (ivermectin) did not reduce all-cause mortality, length of stay or viral clearance in RCTs (randomized controlled trials) in COVID-19 patients with mostly mild disease.”

“IVM did not have an effect on AEs (adverse events) or severe AEs. IVM is not a viable option to treat COVID-19 patients,” according to the study released on June 28.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire asserted anew that DOH responds to the pandemic based on science and evidence.

“Kung makikita natin na ang isang gamit ay magiging epektibo para sa COVID-19, hinding-hindi natin pipigilan ang paggamit nito sa ating populasyon. Pero kailangan maintindihan din ng ating mga kababayan na ang Kagawaran ng Kalusugan at ang gobyerno ay mayroong responsibilidad para maprotektahan natin ang ating populasyon,” she said in an online media briefing.

(If we see that a product is effective against COVID-19, we will not withhold its use for the population. But we have to understand that the DOH and the government are responsible to protect the population.)

“We need to make sure that all of these drugs that are available for our citizens will be safe and are going to be efficacious for them,” she added.

Vergeire noted that even if the use of ivermectin for COVID-19 patients has been a “long issue,” there is no evidence yet to prove that the drug can be used to treat the coronavirus disease.

“Mapro-protektahan sila (patients) based on the indication of the drug. At hanggang sa ngayon, hindi pa rin natin nakikita base sa siyensya at sa ebidensya na itong ivermectin ay makakapag-bigay ng tulong para sa  mga taong may COVID-19 dito sa ating bansa,” she said.

(Patients will be protected based on the indication of the drug. Up to now, we still don’t see based on science and evidence that this ivermectin can help people with COVID-19 in the country.) — Sofia Vertucio, trainee

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