Covid-19 crisis Use of ivermectin to treat covid
Several clinical studies have shown that the drug ivermectin is useful for treating covid patients. It is also an inexpensive drug. 

The drug is considered to be safe for human use, as it has been prescribed for dealing with parasites for a few decades.

The question is that the health authorities are not ready to approve this drug for the treatment of covid - as the clinical studies have not reached a sufficient confidence level. 

I suggest the following approach:

1. In the absence of affordable types of treatment, I suggest that ivermectin should be used. Even if the effectiveness as a cure is not yet proven, the benefit from the use appear to outweigh the risk.

2. In the Philippines, the government has approved the use of ivermectin for "compassionate use". I think that this is a good approach.

3. Another approach is to inform the patient about the status of this drug and to get the patient's consent for its use. Most patients are likely to give the consent, in the absence of other affordable treatment.

4.  There is a concern that ivermectin may be used by some patients as an alternative to the vaccine. It may give the patient a false sense of security. I suggest that the patient should be advised to get vaccinated, but they can use ivermetin in the meantime.

Tan Kin Lian
 

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