THE DEPARTMENT of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday said it will withhold judgment on the legality of moves by some groups to distribute anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin as a treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in humans until an actual case is filed before it.
“Our prosecutors will make a ruling when the issue is actually before them. For now, it's the call of law enforcement agents,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra told reporters.
Speaking in a news program, Guevarra said that under the existing regulations of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), "the importation, sale, distribution or administration of unregistered drugs or vaccines are prohibited and accordingly punished”.
The FDA recently granted a compassionate special permit (CSP) to five undisclosed hospitals for Ivermectin use on Covid-19 patients amid pressure from some doctors and private groups advocating its use.
Prior to the grant of the CSP, Ivermectin products were used for certain animal species to treat internal and external parasites as well as prevention of heartworm disease.
A lawmaker earlier urged the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to fast-track the clinical trials on the use of Ivermectin as a treatment for Covid-19.
Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor said Ivermectin will provide a cheaper alternative for poor Covid-19 patients who cannot afford the expensive Remdesivir and Tocilizumab medicines.
Remdesivir and Tocilizumab are approved for use in the Philippines in severe Covid-19 cases.
Defensor noted that the price of Remdesivir ranges from PHP1,950 to PHP6,200 per vial while Ivermectin at less than P50 per capsule.(By Benjamin Pulta)
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