Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire (File photo)
MANILA – A health official on Monday said the Department of Health (DOH) "will act accordingly" against individuals accountable for the distribution of ivermectin, recommending and prescribing it as a treatment for Covid-19.
"We will act accordingly, according to the existing laws in the country, according to the identified violations according to the accountable persons. So, iyon po ang gagawin namin, we are on to that position and direction na i-a-uphold namin kung anong sinasabi sa batas (that is what we're going to do, we are on to that position and direction that we will uphold what the law says)," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during an online media forum.
Last week, Sagip Party-list Rep. Dante Marcoleta and Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor have distributed the anti-parasitic drug in communities using prescriptions that don't include physician's details.
Vergeire noted "everything is still under investigation" and the DOH has submitted a formal letter to the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) last Friday.
"Nagbigay tayo ng mga anecdotes and mga alleged na ni-report sa atin (We provided anecdotes and alleged reports) about the invalid prescription and we also like to know from them practice of profession of our healthcare workers who are licensed by the PRC," she said. "The Secretary of Health also have given instruction to the Food and Drug Administration to do that parallel investigation as well.”
On Sunday, the Philippine College of Physicians urged the DOH, the FDA and other concerned agencies to "urgently act on the mass distribution of ivermectin" because of possible harmful effects on its takers. (PNA)
