If anyone should be held accountable for any adverse effects of anti-parasitic drug ivermectin, it is the people who chose to take it, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said on Saturday, May 1.
Sotto issued the statement after medical and pharmacists groups expressed concern over the invalid ivermectin prescriptions handed out to Quezon City residents last Thursday, April 29.
"Managot 'yong uminom...Alangan naman sila (doctors) ang managot (Those who took it are responsible. Why would the doctors be held liable)," Sotto said in an interview over DWIZ.
"Sinong mananagot kung magtae 'yong kumain o uminom ng ivermectin, sino ba mananagot? Eh 'di 'yong uminom (Who will be accountable if those who took ivermectin suffer diarrhea, who will answer for that? Those who took it, of course)," he said.
Last Thursday, Anakalusugan Party-list Representative Mike Defensor and SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta led the distribution of free ivermectin capsules in Old Balara, Quezon City, where people lined up for prescription before receiving the drug.
Photos from the media, however, showed that recipients were given prescriptions in a piece of plain paper without the name or any information about the doctor.
The Philippine Pharmacists Association said in an interview that this was a violation of the country's Pharmacy Act (Republic Act No. 10918), as valid prescriptions must contain the physician's name, license number and office address, aside from the patients' name, age, and sex.
The Department of Health (DOH) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also said it will officially endorse the report to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for investigation.
But Sotto, who previously admitted taking ivermectin for supposed protection against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), questioned this move by state regulators, comparing the use of ivermectin to coronavirus vaccines.
"Sabi, ang gusto magpasa ng batas na hindi sila mananagot 'pag may masamang epekto yung vaccine nila. Oh, bakit hindi pumapalag ang FDA doon at tsaka ang DOH doon at saka 'yong mga doctor? Bakit hindi sila pumapalag doon (They asked for a law that will not hold pharmaceutical firm accountable for the adverse effects of their vaccines. Why did the FDA and DOH not object to that, even the doctors? Why did they agree to that)?" he said, recalling the government's request to Congress for an indemnification law before the rollout of the nationwide vaccination program.
The senator supported the use and distribution of ivermectin, citing testimonies that it has been effective in treating COVID-19. He said it is also the reason that he is confident to attend Senate sessions physically.
He also insisted that "no law" prohibits the distribution of ivermectin to the public.
The FDA Law (RA 9711) explicitly bars the distribution of unregistered drugs. While considered as an investigational drug, ivemectin has yet to be registered in the Philippines as a COVID-19 medicine.
Health authorities have repeatedly advised the public to take caution in taking ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment and prevention, citing insufficient evidence that would prove its efficacy for such purpose.
So far, only five hospitals have been allowed by the FDA to use ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment. It also permitted the compounding of the drug, provided that patients must first secure a valid prescription from physicians.
President Duterte has also ordered the conduct of local clinical trial of ivermectin as a COVID-19 drug.