BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) is urging the government to include the anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin in the list of possible treatments for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
On April 14, the SP passed a resolution “strongly beseeching a more intellectual, unbiased, scientific, no competitive financial interest” discussions on the use of this drug. It was penned by Councilor Renecito Novero.
“Ivermectin has been included in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) essential medicines list as a broad spectrum anti-parasitic agent and has been recognized by many experts and observers as one of the greatest medical accomplishments of the 20th century, winning a Nobel Prize in 2015,” part of the resolution read.
It added: “The Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance claimed that the flawed unrecognition of Ivermectin by the WHO ignores the evidence, creates more controversy, and will only lead to continuing suffering and death from COVID-19.”
According to Novero, data overwhelmingly demonstrate that “Ivermectin saves lives so there is no reason not to recommend it for everyone.”
The government is also being sluggish in making Ivermectin immediately available nationwide, Novero pointed out.
“The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law,” the councilor stressed.
A copy of the resolution will be forwarded to the Office of the President, Secretary of the Department of Health, Executive Officer of the Food and Drug Administration, and officials of Bacolod City and Negros Occidental.
Earlier, the FDA granted a compassionate special permit to an undisclosed hospital for the use of Ivermectin as possible treatment for COVID-19 patients.
Some local officials in Western Visayas however, although eager to see the end of the pandemic, were cautious.
For its part, Department of Health in Region 6 said there is no guideline yet from its central office on the possible use of the drug against COVID-19./PN
