The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday (May 3) said it has issued a response on the ivermectin distribution initiated by two lawmakers in Quezon City last week.
According to DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, the DOH has already sent a formal letter to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) as part of the investigation.
“We’d like to also know from them the practice of profession nitong mga sumali dito na healthcare workers who are licensed by PRC,” Vergeire said.
“We will act accordingly, according to the existing laws that we have in the country, according to identified violations, according to the accountable persons,” she warned.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also said it is looking into the possible liabilities of the lawmakers behind the distribution.
“Kung nakita naman natin sa social media, ang dami-dami pong reklamo, ang dami pong pinapakita na…mukhang may kaunting pagkukulang doon sa proseso,” FDA Director-General Eric Domingo said.
The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) will also probe reports of the unauthorized distribution of ivermectin, and said they will “conduct the necessary law enforcement action” if lapses are found.
Dr. Mario Panaligan, president of the Philippine College of Physicians, said they “strongly oppose the dispensing of unregistered drugs like ivermectin for indications that have not been scientifically established.”
He also noted that the anti-parasitic drug “does not significantly improve clinical outcomes or reduce death among adults with mild COVID-19 infection.”
However, Anakalusugan Party-list Representative Mike Defensor defended the doctors who issued the ivermectin prescriptions, saying that they “just wanted to help our poor people.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Science and Technology’s research team has already started discussions regarding the plan to conduct a local clinical trial for the antiparasitic drug. – Report from Mark Fetalco/AG-jlo
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