South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, SAHPRA, Ivermectin, COVID-19, pandemic, efficacy of Ivermectin, programme suspended

SAHPRA has terminated, with immediate effect, the programme that allowed Ivermectin to be prescribed to patients with COVID-19. Photo: Stock Image / Pixabay

COVID-19: SAHPRA immediately terminates Ivermectin programme

SAHPRA says there is no credible evidence to support a therapeutic role for Ivermectin in the treatment of COVID-19.

South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, SAHPRA, Ivermectin, COVID-19, pandemic, efficacy of Ivermectin, programme suspended

SAHPRA has terminated, with immediate effect, the programme that allowed Ivermectin to be prescribed to patients with COVID-19. Photo: Stock Image / Pixabay

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) released a statement regarding the controversial drug Ivermectin. The Authority says Ivermectin is no longer allowed to be prescribed to patients with COVID-19.

SAHPRA terminates the programme with immediate effect

The Controlled Compassionate Use Access Programme has been terminated by SAHPRA with immediate effect. SAHPRA says there is no credible evidence that the drug helps treat COVID-19.

The Authority shared a list of developments regarding the efficacy of Ivermectin since it adopted the aforementioned programme.

“Given that there is currently no credible evidence to support a therapeutic role for Ivermectin in COVID-19, SAHPRA has decided to terminate the Programme with immediate effect. No further importation of unregistered Ivermectin products will be allowed, and health facilities will no longer be enabled to hold bulk stock in anticipation of prescriptions for such unregistered Ivermectin products. Prescribers will still be expected to report on the clinical outcomes achieved in patients for whom section 21 approval has been issued,”

it said.

Ivermectin was allowed to be prescribed after the Authority adopted the programme in 2021

SAHPRA says it is under a duty to consider all published data as well as the conclusions of reputable authorities that it named in the list. 

Early last year, the Authority adopted the programme regarding Ivermectic under Section 21 of the Medicines and Related Substances Act. This allowed the anti-parasitic drug to be used as a treatment for COVID-19 symptoms.

SAHPRA says there is no credible evidence to support Ivermectin’s efficacy in treating COVID-19 symptoms. Photo: @SAHPRA1 / Twitter

South Africa is ALMOST at halfway mark for adult COVID-19 vaccinations

In other COVID-19 news, it was reported that South Africa is making headway with the adult COVID-19 vaccinations. Deputy Minister in the Presidency Pinky Kekana says that the country is making it to the halfway mark for adult COVID-19 jabs.

While this is a step in the right direction, South Africa is not anywhere close to the 70% of vaccinations the Government was hoping to be at by this stage. On Thursday, 26 May, Kekana was part of a webinar on Government research into COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.

Kekana said that research found that vaccine hesitancy is at 25%, which has dropped by 3%. Kekana said that the 25% is despite evidence of the efficacy and safety of the COVID-19 vaccine. Read the full story here.