NGO also lodges police report against MoH for not using Ivermectin to treat Covid-19 patients
The Malaysia Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) is hopeful that Malaysia will approve the use of Ivermectin in treating Covid-19 patients.
Its President Dato’ Nadzim Johan told The Health: “We hope that Ivermectin will be allowed in Malaysia for those who want it.
“We’re not making this an issue. Just like vaccines, we should not force people to take it.”
PPIM was one of the NGOs that signed a letter calling for the approval of Ivermectin as Plan B for vaccination.
In February, the letter, also signed by several associations and individuals, urged the government to approve the use of Ivermectin to treat Covid-19 patients in Malaysia.
The letter shared the benefits of Ivermectin as a low-cost medicine that outweighed its adverse side effects. The letter stated that many countries had used Ivermectin to treat diseases many years ago. However, in Malaysia, the usage was only limited to treatment for animals.
According to the letter, Ivermectin, an anti-parasitic and antiviral drug, was developed by Japan in 1975. More than 3.7 billion doses were distributed globally and used by millions of people in the last 30 years or so, with no reported adverse side effects or deaths.
The letter also addressed the need for ‘Plan B’ by the government given the worsening Covid-19 situation in the country. It said the approval for Ivermectin is a safe, cheap and effective ‘weapon’ against Covid-19 should be
done quickly.
It also pointed out that the Ministry of Health (MoH) had given conditional approval to the controversial Pfizer experimental mRNA vaccine without any clinical trials in Malaysia.
The letter received a mixed response from the public. Some were hopeful to have an affordable and effective alternative treatment for Covid-19, but many were sceptical.
Police report lodged
PPIM also upped the ante on June 23 by lodging a police report against the MoH for refusing to use Ivermectin to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Nadzim said the ministry’s refusal to consider Ivermectin was a criminal offence as more than 2,300 Covid-19 patients had died in Malaysia.
“Numerous clinical trials have proven that Ivermectin can reduce the risk of infection at 88 per cent. It can also reduce the fatality rate at 83 per cent, and many prophylaxes have also confirmed it can reduce Covid-19 transmissions.
“Covid-19 deaths are increasing every day, and we should be open and accept the views of others as long as it is proven effective to prevent the spread of Covid-19,” he said.
Science the best weapon
The MoH has yet to approve Ivermectin following the lack of studies and clinical evidence.
On May 16, the Director-General of Health Malaysia, Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, in his blog, stated: “Regulatory bodies including the US FDA and the European EMA, after evaluating these studies, concluded there was insufficient evidence to support Ivermectin as treatment of Covid-19.
“The WHO also issued guidelines against Ivermectin in the treatment of Covid-19 except in clinical trial settings.”
In his post, Dr Noor Hisham doubted the use of Ivermectin in Covid-19 treatment. He said the MoH could not endorse Ivermectin to prevent or treat the illness without the benefit of evidence from well-designed clinical trials.
Dr Noor Hisham emphasised it was important for MoH to figure out what really worked and hoped this study would correct MOH’s perspective on the clinical effectiveness of Ivermectin. He argued that science should remain the best weapon against the SARS-Cov-2 virus, not circumstantial hype.
“Personally, we can see Ivermectin has been used worldwide, such as in India but is still not allowed in Malaysia. If it is clinically proven to bring more benefits later, then those who want to consume should be allowed to do so,” said Nadzim.
PPIM is an active NGO that strives to change the landscape of consumerism among Muslims in Malaysia. — The Health
