Sotto plans for inquiry into ivermectin use
May 10, 2021 08:48 PM
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III will hold a Senate hearing to look into the Food and Drug Administration's alleged opposition on the use of Ivermectin for COVID treatment.
"Bakit selected hospital lang, bakit selected people lang? 'Yun ang mga hindi nasasagot. Maganda niyan magkaroon ng hearing tungkol dyan."
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said that once the Senate resumes session on May 17, he will schedule a hearing to investigate the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) firm stance against the use of the drug Ivermectin for treating COVID patients.
The said hearing will occur within a week after the Senate is back in session, or the week following it. Sotto said he might even give a privilege speech on the matter.
"Bakit selected hospital lang, bakit selected people lang? 'Yun ang mga hindi nasasagot. Maganda niyan magkaroon ng hearing tungkol dyan," Sotto said.
(Why are they only allowing several hospitals? Why only allow it for selected people? We need those questions answered. It would be best to have a hearing about it)
Recently, the FDA has only allowed the use of Ivermectin for only five hospitals as an investigational drug for COVID treatment.
"Ano bang pinagmamaktol nila, tapos may balita milyong-milyong halaga ng gamot inaaprub nila tapos itong P35 ayaw nila," he added.
(What are they holding it back for, when there are reports of them approving millions worth of other drugs, while this one only costs P35)
The FDA responded earlier and explained that the drug is still undergoing tests to ensure that it passes quality and safety requirements before attaining its registration approval.
"Malaki pagkukulang nila dito. Baka naman ayaw lang nila pero sa ibang bansa baka ito kalat na ginagamit, baka di kailangan ng vaccine,"
(This is a huge shortcoming from them. Maybe they don't want to approve it, but it's still widely used in other countries. Maybe we won't even need a vaccine)
Dr. Jaime Montoya, the head of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST) said that they aim to complete the clinical trials for Ivermectin by early next year.
