MANILA – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that a physician who prescribed the anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin for human treatment will be liable for the side effects or issues.
One of the requirements for the grant of compassionate use permit to Ivermectin was the doctor’s assurance to take responsibility for its use, FDA director general Eric Domingo said.
He further said that the processing of the permit would only take 24-48 hours if the requirements are complete.
“Dapat din na mangako ang doctor na nag-aapply for compassionate use permit na he will take full responsibility for the use of the drugs. Pagkatapos ipapakita nila ang ebidensya na may ongoing clinical trial itong gamot na ito,” Domingo told DZBB on Sunday.
Since the drug’s use is prohibited without a permit, only hospitals having compassionate use permits for humans will be allowed to import the drug through a licensed importer.
Last week, FDA approved an unnamed hospital’s application for compassionate use of the drug against coronavirus disease 2019.
Domingo also denied the statement of former Health secretary and Iloilo representative Janette Garin that the FDA was pressured to issue a compassionate use permit to Ivermectin.
“When we make decisions – it’s really based on set rules and regulations, if we give permits or we deny them,” Domingo said. “Hindi naman tayo sumusunod dahil sa pressure or doon sa kahit na anong mga opinyon na naririnig natin.”
While several advocates urged the FDA to issue a compassionate use permit to the drug, the Department of Health, World Health Organization, Ivermectin’s manufacturer, Merck, cautioned against its use due to a lack of studies on its effectiveness in curing or preventing the virus./PN
