Third hospital gets limited permit to use Ivermectin for Covid patients

THE Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday said another hospital has been received the go-signal to use anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin for its Covid-19 patients.

During a hearing of the House Committee of Good Government and Public Accountability FDA Director General Rolando Enrique Domingo said the unnamed health facilty is the third hospital to secure compassionate special permit (CSP) to treat Covid-19.

“Another hospital was granted [CSP] yesterday [Wednesday]. There is still one pending application,” said Domingo. FDA did not disclose the name of the said hospital, citing patient privacy, which comes with issued CSPS.

CSP is required before an unregistered drug, medical device or food product can be locally used.

Currently, FDA said, two parties are now applying for the certificate of product registration for their respective Ivermectin products.

According to the FDA, the registered Ivermectin products in the country for human use are in topical formulations under prescription use only, saying this is used for the treatment of external parasites such as head lice and skin conditions such as rosacea.

The FDA said the registered oral and intravenous preparations of Ivermectin are veterinary products, which are approved for use in animals for the prevention of heartworm disease and treatment of internal and external parasites in certain animal species.

The agency reiterated that the Ivermectin has not been approved for treatment of any viral infection.

Clear guidelines

AMID debates on the use of Ivermectin for treating Covid-19, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and Deputy Speaker Bernadette Herrera filed House Resolution 1711, calling for an inquiry into the policies and guidelines of the Department of Health and the FDA for the registration, utilization, manufacture, distribution or sale of drug products for Covid-19.