Dr. Benigno “Iggy” Agbayani, head of
Concerned Doctors and Citizens of the Philippines, who was also present during the drug’s free distribution last week, made this claim in a televised interview with CNN Philippines on April 30.
“I also forgot to write ‘ivermectin’ and the reason for that sa dami po ng reseta na nabigay ko, akala ko nalagay ko na yung ivermectin,” Agbayani said.
Called “Ivermectin pan-three,” Deputy Speaker
Rodante Marcoleta (Sagip party-list) and Rep.
Michael Defensor (Anakalusugan party-list) distributed unregistered doses to residents of a barangay in Quezon City last Thursday, April 29.
Doctors were reportedly present during the activity to provide prescriptions to recipients despite earlier warnings issued by health authorities against the drug in the context of COVID-19.
Ivermectin pills (Photo courtesy of IndiaMart via PNA)
Dr. Mario Panaligan, President of PCP, urged the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to urgently act on the matter of mass distribution of anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin recently.
This, after Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor and Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta distributed Ivermectin capsules to residents of Quezon City last week.
“Ito’y isang gamot na nagagamit po talaga para sa mga parasite, pero kung meron man po itong effect sa COVID-19, ito’y pinag-aaralan pa hanggang ngayon. Hindi sa sinasabi naming wala itong epekto, kung di gusto sana naming makita kung anong totoong epekto nito (It’s a drug used to treat parasites, if it really has an effect on COVID-19, it’s still being studied. We’re not saying that it has no effect, it’s just that, we want to prove it first),” Panaligan said.
Published May 2, 2021, 10:53 PM
The number of infected by the COVID 19 virus has been constantly increasing and are you going to become part of the count? More Filipinos are at risk from losing their jobs causing more uncertainty on how we can still improve the worsening impact to our economy and even to our mental health.
The benefits of immunization outweighs the fears about undesirable side-effects and potential adverse reactions. It is strongly recommended to patients who are immunocompromised or have chronic medical conditions such as hypertension, cancer, diabetes, kidney or heart disorders, and this is the best time to consult physicians as COVID 19 is a virus that can only be dealt by medical science.
April 30, 2021
Who should be held responsible in case people who receive the anti-parasite drug ivermectin distributed for free in Quezon City have an adverse effect?
For Dr. Maricar Limpin, vice president of the Philippine College of Physicians, doctors, legislators and even the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should be held accountable in case people get sick because of Ivermectin especially if it is given without a proper prescription.
“Sino ang hahabulin ng tao kung magkakaroon ng problema? I think kung pumapayag ang FDA, then they should also be held accountable kasi pinayagan nila. Definitely, ‘yung dalawang congressman who are involved here kasi sila ang nag initiate together with the doctors who are there, they should be held accountable for whatever problems na maaaring mangyari because of that particular activity,” she said in interview with TeleRadyo.
Philippine College of Physicians (PCP)
PCP Vice President Dr. Maricar Limpin warned that taking the drug despite the lack of evidence to support claims that it is supposedly effective against COVID-19 will only give people false security.
“Ang aming posisyon diyan (Our position in that) is we still have to wait for the results of the clinical trials because that will be our evidence on whether we can give it for COVID-19 or not,” Limpin said in a TeleRadyo interview Friday, April 30.
President Duterte has ordered the conduct of clinical trials in the country on the use of the drug as a potential treatment against COVID-19.