Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 10) — The Health Department on Monday refuted a lawmaker’s claim pushing for the use of antiparasitic drug ivermectin against COVID-19, with the solon alleging that the agency could face graft charges for purchasing remdesivir for coronavirus patients.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire responded to the warning of Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor that DOH could face charges for “recklessly and foolishly spending” P1 billion-worth of funds that is “grossly disadvantageous” to the government when it bought remdesivir for COVID-19 patients.
She said the agency does not purchase this experimental drug as it still does not have a certificate for product registration.
She said DOH allocates funds to hospitals so they can apply for remdesivir compassionate special permit, which the hospitals can use to buy the experimental drugs if approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
“Itong sinasabi na pinoprocure natin ay wala tayong ganung datos o ginawa ang DOH [There is no data or any truth that DOH procured this]. We will not do that because we follow regulatory protocol,” she said in a media briefing.
Defensor and Sagip Partylist Rep. Rodante Marcoleta held an event in April to give away free ivermectin capsules despite the warning of the DOH that only hospitals granted compassionate special permit can distribute these drugs with prescription.
Meanwhile, DOH said there are local studies showing that there is evidence that antiviral drug remdesivir can help prevent the progression of a COVID-19 patient’s condition. This comes after the World Health Organization recommended against the use of remdesivir in hospitalized patients as there is currently no evidence that remdesivir improves survival and other outcomes in these patients.
