The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday revealed that it was President Rodrigo Duterte himself who ordered clinical trials of anti-parasitic drug ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment.
“Si Presidente po mismo ang nag-utos noong Huwebes sa DOSTat DOH na aralin,” FDA Director-General Eric Domingo bared in a televised briefing.
“Kasi nga po, marami rin siyang naririnig at nababalitaan na may mga sumusuporta at meron ding mga siyentipiko na nagsasabi na kulang pa rin ang ebidensya. So inutos niya po sa pamahalaan na aralin na rin,” he explained.
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The country’s drug regulator chief said Duterte really wanted to know if ivermectin is a cheap and effective alternative treatment for COVID patients.
Domingo, on the other hand, acknowledged the Department of Science and Technology’s stand that there was no need to launch a local study for ivermectin since there were 20 “almost completed” and 40 “ongoing” clinical trials about the medicine overseas.
“Kaya lang po, si Presidente, gusto rin niya talaga siguro subukan sa ating mga Pilipino kaya po inutos niya sa DOST na aralin din po dito sa atin,” he pointed out.
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Ivermectin is doing rounds on social media following the endorsement of lawmakers and some doctors to use the drug to treat COVID-19 patients.
However, the World Health Organization said that there’s no current evidence that supports the claim that ivermectin is effective against COVID-19. (RA)
