Ivermectin Polemic On COVID-19 Therapeutic Drug, PKS: It's Anthelmintic, The Government Shouldn't Just Endorse It

JAKARTA - House of Representatives Commission IX member, Netty Prasetiyani Aher, asked the government not to arbitrarily give endorsements related to COVID-19 therapeutic drugs. Moreover, the hype about drugs has no scientific evidence.

Netty said this in response to the statement from the Minister of SOEs who mentioned Ivermectin as a therapeutic drug for COVID-19. Erick Tohir's statement then caused a polemic in the public sphere.

“As the party with the most authority in dealing with the pandemic, the government must be careful in making statements or policies. Make sure every statement that comes out to the public must be supported by accurate data and facts", said Netty to reporters, Friday, June 25.

"Don't carelessly endorse a type of drug as a COVID-19 therapy, even though it hasn't gone through a series of standard clinical trials", she continued.

According to Netty, BPOM (Food and Drug Supervisory Agency) as the drug distribution authority has given a distribution permit for Ivermectin as an Anthelmintic, not a COVID-19 treatment therapy.

“Countries that have used Ivermectin as a COVID-19 drug have stopped using it. Why does the government actually endorse it as a COVID-19 drug and will even prepare for mass production? Isn't the distribution permit issued by BPOM as a worm medicine?", she said.

The Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Commission of the PKS Faction hopes that the handling of COVID-19 will prioritize the principles of honesty and transparency in every policy and any steps taken.

"The government must be honest and transparent in taking every policy so as not to cause polemics and resistance in the community", said Netty.

Currently, he added, the public is sensitive and tired of the prolonged pandemic. Therefore, the government and officials must be careful and sensitive in dealing with the mental atmosphere of the people.

"Government officials make a slight mistake in making a statement that will cause a public outcry", said Netty.

Netty also asked the government that the handling of the pandemic should also adhere to the principles of science-based policy, for people's safety, not for political or economic motives.

"Don't let the surge in COVID-19 cases be used as an opportunity for some parties to seek profit. There should be no moral hazard in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic to achieve political or economic goals. Make sure all policies are based on scientific-based policies, for people's safety", she said.

Previously, the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises on May 5, 2021, was known to have sent a letter to the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) to provide support in accelerating the issuance of the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) Ivermectin as a COVID-19 therapeutic drug.

The letter numbered S-330/MBU/05/2021 was sent to BPOM to support the submission of an application that had been previously submitted by PT Indofarma Tbk (INAF) to BPOM.

Indofarma is a pharmaceutical SOE listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) with the code INAF, being a subsidiary of the Pharmaceutical SOE Holding under PT Bio Farma (Persero). Another subsidiary of Bio Farma is PT Kimia Farma Tbk (KAEF).

In a letter signed Wednesday, June 23, SOE Minister Erick Tohir stated that Ivermectin deserves to be given the EUA because according to information from Indofarma, the drug is effective in preventing and eradicating the SARS-CoV-2 virus and has been used in several countries.

"Even the National Institute of Health, an institution under the United States Department of Health on January 15, 2021, has increased Ivermectin as an optional drug for COVID-19 therapy, as well as Slovakia which has issued EUA Ivermectin as a COVID-19 therapeutic drug and uses it nationally", the letter said, quoted Thursday, June 24.