Ministry of Health No Longer Recommending Ivermectin to Treat COVID
The Ministry of Health will no longer recommend Ivermectin as a treatment drug for COVID-19. The decision comes after medical professionals; both at home and abroad have indicated that Ivermectin is not effective in the treatment of the virus. But even though the infection rate for COVID is on the decline, if there is ever a need for an alternative treatment, it would be something that is far more costly than the one we have been using. News Five’s Marion Ali reports in this edition of COVID Chronicles.
Dr. Fernando Cuellar
Dr. Fernando Cuellar, Internist
“The evidence has shown that it is not as effective as initially thought so you would see now that it’s not recommended in COVID patients.”
Marion Ali, Reporting
The anti-parasitic drug called Ivermectin was discovered in 1975 and was first used in veterinary medicine to prevent and treat heartworm. It was thereafter repurposed to also treat humans for parasites. And since COVID swept the globe the last two years, some thought Ivermectin was the wonder drug to treat the virus.
Dr. Fernando Cuellar
“At the beginning (of the pandemic) even myself was using it – prescribing it and I can remember I had also said publicly that I would be recommending it, but that has changed, so we’re no longer recommending the Ivermectin as part of the COVID use.”
Kevin Bernard
And the Ministry of Health is taking that recommendation to not use the drug to treat COVID patients. Today, while he was occupied in a Cabinet retreat and could not grant an interview, Minister of Health, Kevin Bernard informed News Five that “our official position is that we are not prescribing or promoting the use of Ivermectin for the treatment of COVID. Even though you can find some studies still advocating its use, the majority of studies have not proven its effectiveness”. Indeed there are still arguments in some quarters of the medical profession as to the drug’s efficacy, Internist, Dr. Fernando Cuellar states, but less so now.
Dr. Fernando Cuellar
“I’m sure that we can continue having some debates about its use because it’s a little bit effective – less effective than we thought – it’s safe, and the other big factor about it is that it’s very cheap. There’s still some debate, but now I can tell you that the debate now leans to not using it for SARS COVID.”
The American Food and Drug Administration reports that Ivermectin can be harmful if it is taken in large amounts and that it can interact with other medications, like blood-thinners. Overdoses on ivermectin can cause a variety of other health issues as well that can lead to seizures, coma and even death. But while this once miracle drug is now being taken off the list of COVID treatments, newer ones that have gotten the thumbs-up might not be accessible to every patient.
Dr. Fernando Cuellar
“Other types of medications that have now come on the market are far more expensive. Molnupiravir which is available in Belize – a 5-day course of that costs four hundred and fifty dollars. So that make it prohibitive for a lot of people noh. A lot of people won’t have that amount of money to spend on the newer medication that is recommended.”
The cost attached to the new treatment drug for COVID could put new burdens on the government if another COVID wave comes our way.
Marion Ali for News Five.
