The House Of Representatives Asks The Ministry Of Health And The National Agency of Drug and Food Control To Immediately Complete Clinical Trials And Give EUA To Ivermectin

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JAKARTA - House of Representatives (DPR) Commission IX member Saleh Partaonan Daulay asked the government to immediately grant an emergency use permit (UAE) for Ivermectin as one of the COVID-19 therapeutic drugs.

The reason is, in addition to accelerating the implementation of vaccinations, the provision of medicines for exposed people also needs to be taken seriously as an effort to control and reduce the rate of spread of the COVID-19 virus.

During the Commission IX meeting of the DPR with the ministry of health and the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM), last Tuesday, July 13. Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin explained that there are 8 types of drugs used to treat COVID-19 patients.

The eight drugs are Azithromycin, Multivitamins, Ivermectin, Oseltamivir, Remdesivir, Favipiravir, IV Immunoglobulin (IVIg), and Tocilizumab (Actemra). According to the Minister of Health, these drugs need additional supplies so that their needs can be met.

Of the eight types of drugs described by the Minister of Health, said Saleh, Ivermectin is one of the most interesting. Because, when the Minister of Health explained it meant that the drug was really needed. In fact, it may have been given to many exposed patients.

"Surprisingly, in the field of ivermectin, it is debated. If it has been used, what needs to be done is further studies. Including clinical trials and Emergency Use Authorization", said Saleh, Monday, July 19.

For this reason, Saleh urged the Ministry of Health and BPOM to immediately accelerate the process of clinical trials of Ivermectin. Moreover, in many countries ivermectin has been widely used.

Based on existing reports, he said, Ivermectin has so far been considered effective for curing people exposed to COVID.

"There must be an acceleration and unnecessary red tape. It would also be good if benchmarks were carried out with other countries that had already succeeded and had issued the EUA. In a situation like this, there must be a sense of emergency. business as usual", said the chairman of the DPR's PAN Party faction.

"I'm actually happy to hear that clinical trials of ivermectin are being carried out in eight hospitals. Of course, this is good. But it would be even better if the process was simplified so that academic conclusions can be reached immediately. And in the end, the EUA can also be issued immediately", he continued.

The North Sumatra legislator added that the presence of Ivermectin as a covid drug was considered very important. Because, in the midst of an increasing escalation of people exposed, the need for drugs is very urgent. Moreover, Ivermectin is a very cheap drug that is accessible to the public.

"From other types of drugs, I heard that Ivermectin is the cheapest. It can be reached by all levels of society. Therefore, its availability must be maintained so that there is no shortage. If it is scarce, then the price will increase. Here lies the important role of the Ministry of Health and BPOM to ensure that this drug is available in sufficient quantities", said Saleh.