DOH: Doctors prescribing Ivermectin as COVID-19 cure risk losing license

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said names of doctors prescribing the use of Ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19 infection despite warning from government health authorities will be submitted to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

This comes as DOH has warned that government regulators have not approved Ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug, for the cure of “any viral infection.”

“We will submit the names of these doctors to the Professional Regulation Commission. If found guilty, these doctors run the risk of getting their licenses revoked,” DOH said in a statement.

The DOH also reiterated its earlier advice to the public not to purchase and utilize Ivermectin veterinary products as medication for COVID-19, citing the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Advisory No. 2021-0526 issued on March 15.

According to DOH, the registered Ivermectin veterinary products are only approved for use in the prevention of heartworm disease and treatment of internal and external parasites in certain animal species.

“Ivermectin is NOT APPROVED by the FDA for treatment of any viral infection. Any use of Ivermectin veterinary products for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 should be avoided,” it said.

Both DOH and FDA do not recommend the use of Ivermectin to treat COVID-19 patients since the benefits and safety of the product for this purpose have not been established.

Data from clinical trials are necessary to determine whether Ivermectin is safe and effective in treating or preventing COVID-19 infection, the health agency added.

According to DOH, the FDA has only evaluated the product’s safety and efficacy in particular species for which they are labeled, and that “using these products in humans can cause serious harm.”

Animal drugs, it added, are often highly concentrated and can be highly toxic to humans.

DOH urged the public to report individuals and physicians either selling or recommending the use of Ivermectin for purposes outside of its approved intended application by calling the Center for Drug Regulation and Research at (02) 8 809-5596.

KGA