Hundreds of SA docs sign letter of plea to Ramaphosa allowing use of Ivermectin
Updated | By Nushera Soodyal
More than 300 South African medical professionals have now signed a letter in support of a plea to allow the use of Ivermectin to treat COVID-19.
It's currently illegal in South Africa to use the anti-parasitic drug on humans.
Ivermectin is being touted by some as a cheap and effective drug that can help treat the virus.
In the letter penned by Durban-based GP, Naseeba Kathrada, President Cyril Ramaphosa is asked to set up an urgent special council to do a thorough and rapid review of Ivermectin.
Kathrada has told Newswatch there are hundreds of studies already done, and new data emerging daily, showing promise with Ivermectin.
NOW READ: Health MEC launches probe into Ivermectin overdoses in KZN
"The thing is, SAHPRA's three pillars are safety, efficacy and quality and if this is a safe drug and most people are saying it is safer than Panado, why would they not allow us to use it. In other countries, people are fighting to get it on the protocol, in our country, we are fighting to get it legal so that it is back in the hands of the doctor."
READ: Zweli Mkhize: Adjusted level 3 allowed decline in COVID-19 numbers
"So that we can dispense to the right people, at the right quantities, at the right time and it's not all over the black market."
Yesterday, Health Minister, Zweli Mkhize, told reporters in Durban he'd seen the letter.
He says he's spoken to the Ministerial Advisory Committee and the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority.
"The regulatory authority has indicated that everyone is welcome to order the drugs and participate in a trial and therefore, the authorisation can be given on that basis."
"The doctors that are conducting that trial will have to be the ones that take responsibility. I would suggest that they take that route until we can get enough research reports," says Mkhize.
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