Breaking News: SAHPRA confirm controlled and compassionate access to Ivermectin
There will be controlled and compassionate access to the drug Ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19.
This has just been announced by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority.
The body says it will facilitate this through a compassionate access programme. CEO, Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela says SAHPRA will facilitate the programme.
She says the guidelines will be announced in the next few days. "This does not mean that our position changes around the availability or lack of availability of scientific data.
But we had to as a regulator have very in-depth discussions around the context we find ourselves in with the pandemic, with limited options being available.
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The antiparasitic drug is currently not registered in South Africa for use on humans.
There's been an ongoing debate about its effectiveness in the treatment of COVID-19.
Hundreds of healthcare professionals have also signed a letter to the government - asking that it be legalised.
Afriforum and some medical practitioners have also launched an urgent application against the Authority and the Health Minister - in a bid to have the drug approved for treatment.
