‘I can imagine that those with vested interests have been laying down pressure on the FDA to approve Ivermectin for human use to combat COVID-19…’
I’M beginning to feel some pity for the folks over at the Food and Drug Administration. In addition to their primary task of making sure that medicines and other items are safe for the public to consume (in addition to their other regulatory tasks, ranging from medical devices, supplies, cosmetics, among many things), in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, they are also the same agency tasked to make sure that manufacturers applying for the emergency use authorization are thoroughly vetted and screened. I’m certain they understand the magnitude of the responsibility: they must ensure that any vaccine applying for an EUA passes their standards, in a race against time. (The question of supply of vaccines is, of course, another matter out of the FDA’s hands.)
From what I’ve seen, the FDA is fairly conscientious when it comes to warning the public against untested skin creams that they should not buy, or unregistered vitamins or supplements they should not take. The rise of online commerce has certainly made the FDA more relevant; if a consumer comes across an unfamiliar product being sold online (and believe me, there are plenty) then all one needs to do is go to the FDA website to check if the said product is registered, or if there is any advisory warning the general public against buying or consuming these specific unregistered products.
Add to that is this entire nonsense about Ivermectin for preventing COVID. This manufactured push for the untested drug for COVID-19 (which I suspect, is for selfish motivation) is just, in a word, stupefying. I can imagine that those with vested interests have been laying down pressure on the FDA to approve Ivermectin for human use to combat COVID-19, seeing that there have been limited cases where a permit for compassionate use was issued for a particular hospital. I can also imagine a full court press being done on regulatory officials to allow the use so supply can flood it, even if the claims are at best, questionable. The better question is: who stands to benefit should the FDA cave in to the pressure?
Thankfully, the Philippine College of Physicians has issued a statement on this matter, essentially calling on the Department of Health and the FDA to act urgently on the mass distribution of Ivermectin by some individuals and groups.
The PCP statement was not without compassion. “We understand the desire of many concerned citizens to immediately find solutions to the threats of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, amidst the chaos and controversies we find ourselves in, we call on everyone, particularly the thought leaders of communities and institutions, to stay firm with our resolve to be guided by science and medical information based on robust research,” the statement read. It’s clear that the PCP itself recognizes that the pandemic is so widespread that people are turning to untested solutions in order to protect themselves.
“We have to resist being swayed by others despite the absence of scientific evidence,” the statement went on. “Let us also refrain from thinking that we are saving our countrymen from the complications of COVID-19 by giving them medicines that are not remedies. We may be exposing them to unwanted and possibly harmful side effects.” Here’s to looking at the legislators and public officials who have styled themselves as heroes, dispensing Ivermectin to their hapless constituents. We don’t need more health complications, dear sirs.
And apparently, the question no one wants to answer: Who will be responsible should someone fall gravely ill from Ivermectin dispensed at these events? Will the congressmen who are advocating and giving these away for free be responsible for the hospitalization, medication, or God forbid, untimely death of their constituents whom they encouraged to take this unregistered drug? If the answer from these self-styled heroes is “No” in any case, then pack up those distribution drives and shut up. They deserve to be thrown into jail for using their authority to manufacture false hope for their constituents. However satisfying that situation might seem to us ordinary folk, I doubt that there will be any move to prosecute high-profile Ivermectin pushers for violating current laws on distributing unregistered medicine. Right now, noises are being made, statements are being issued, all to be forgotten when a new issue comes along.
