WHO official warns against using hydroxychloroquine outside clinical trials

Geneva: A senior official of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned against using hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, the drugs for malaria and other diseases, in the treatment of COVID-19, saying these drugs should be reserved for use “within clinical trials”.

Dr Michael Ryan, executive director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme said despite that both drugs are already licensed for many diseases, at this stage, they “have been as yet found to be effective in the treatment of COVID-19 or in the prophylaxis against coming down with the disease.”