Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize listening on as President Cyril Ramaphosa addressing the KZN Provincial Command Coucil COVID-19 briefing at the Agricultural Royal Showgrounds in Pietermaritzburg [Photo: GCIS]
SA edges closer to rolling out COVID-19 treatment
Dr Zweli Mkhize says South Africa is in a favourable position to start rolling out dexamethasone as treatment for critically ill COVID-19 patients.
Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize listening on as President Cyril Ramaphosa addressing the KZN Provincial Command Coucil COVID-19 briefing at the Agricultural Royal Showgrounds in Pietermaritzburg [Photo: GCIS]
South Africa’s health department has taken a step closer to rolling out treatment discovered to reduce mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patient.
The department announced earlier in the week that the steroid, dexamethasone has been found to reduce the risk of death in serious coronavirus cases by a third.
COVID-19 treatment breakthrough
In a statement issued out on Friday, Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize hailed the breakthrough.
“This is a significant breakthrough in evidence-based management of COVID-19. The study results are compelling because it was a randomized study that was able to recruit large numbers of participants (6 425),” Mkhize said.
“There is no other medicine that has shown this level of efficacy against COVID-19 to date.”
Dr Zweli Mkhize
South Africa in favourable position to roll out dexamethasone
Mkhize iterated that the treatment offers no benefit for those not requiring respiratory assistance.
He added that South Africa was in a favourable position to roll out the treatment, with sufficient dexamethasone stocks as well as medical staff that is familiar with the steroid.
“Our healthcare workers are very familiar with dexamethasone, having used it for decades as a registered medicine in South Africa.
“We are immediately able to offer all patients who need intravenous dexamethasone. Our Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19 issued an advisory to recommend the use of dexamethasone for all patients on ventilators or requiring non-invasive supplementary oxygen,” Mkhize said.
Dr Zweli Mkhize
He added;
“This is one of those medicines where we do have excellent local capacity.
“There are three major suppliers of intravenous dexamethasone in the country. One of the companies manufactures the oral equivalent and supplies it all over the world and so we are able to negotiate the security of our own supply right here at home.”
Dr Zweli Mkhize
Breakthrough came in the nick of time
Mkhize said having a South African manufacture of such critical medicine was a departure from the norm, and a reason for the country to be proud of its role in providing a solution to the global crisis.
South Africa has so far recorded 87 715 COVID-19 cases, with 1 831 deaths, with 94 new fatalities reported in the past 24 hours.
A surge in infections is expected to hit the country in the coming months.
Mkhize hailed the timing of the breakthrough, as it came just as the public health system is expected to come under some strain.
“The strategy is easy to implement as the medicine is inexpensive, easy to transport, easy to administer and will not require too much additional training, he said.
“Whilst the MAC (Ministerial Advisory Committee) has made it clear their advisory is issued while awaiting the full study paper for closer assessment, we have learnt that leading clinicians in academic hospitals have been using the medicine and they are very excited that their anecdotal experiences have now been affirmed by higher levels of evidence.
“We, therefore, will be moving ahead to issue guidelines for the use of dexamethasone in all our facilities for desperately ill COVID-19 patients.”
Dr Zweli Mkhize
Dexamethasone is manufactured in South Africa by pharmaceutical giant, Aspen.
