Ivermectin Is A Hard Drug, BPOM Asks The Public Not To Buy It Carelessly, Including Online

DOK ANTARA/ Head of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) Penny Lukito

JAKARTA - Head of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) Penny Lukito appealed to the public not to buy Ivermectin carelessly. He emphasized that this drug is still in the clinical trial stage to be given to COVID-19 patients.

In addition, this drug is also included in the group of hard drugs so that its use must be with a doctor's prescription.

"We urge the public, with this clinical trial, people do not buy Ivermectin freely. This includes not buying from illegal online platforms," said Penny in a press conference broadcast on BPOM's YouTube, Monday, June 28.

He said, Ivermectin has been circulating so far, but for the treatment of helminth infections. However, his institution has authorized the conduct of clinical trials of the drug.

"Clinical trials as a COVID-19 drug will be carried out immediately. Thank you to the Minister of SOEs, Erick Thohir, who has concerns about access to handling COVID-19 drugs," he said

This test was carried out by giving Ivermectin for five days to COVID-19 patients and then observing for 28 days. The clinical trial will last for approximately three months with the provision of reports every month.

Meanwhile, the location of the Ivermectin clinical trial will be carried out in eight hospitals, namely Persahabatan Hospital Jakarta, Sulianti Saroso Hospital Jakarta, Dr. Soedarso Pontianak, Adam Malik General Hospital in Medan, and Gatot Subroto Army Hospital in Jakarta.

In addition, Dr. Esnawan Antariksa Hospital Jakarta, Dr. RS. Suyoto Jakarta, and the COVID-19 Emergency Hospital Wisma Atlet Kemayoran Jakarta. "However, if the community needs this drug, doctors can give the drug by observing the clinical trial protocol," said Penny.

Previously, BPOM issued an Approval for the Implementation of Clinical Trials (PPUK) for the drug Ivermectin. This decision was conveyed by the Head of BPOM Penny Lukito accompanied by the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir.

This approval was given after epidemiological data and global publications stated that Ivermectin could be given to COVID-19 patients.

In addition, this approval was also given after a recommendation from the World Health Organization (WHO). The recommendation states that Ivermectin can be used as a clinical trial framework.

Not only WHO, similar recommendations were also issued by the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

However, clinical trial data still has to be collected where the implementation will be initiated by the Health Research and Development Agency (Balitbangkes) of the Ministry of Health.