NATIONAL NEWS - The ACDP says today’s court order in the matter between the ACDP and various parties, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), and the Minister of Health, is a great victory for freedom for doctors and the people of South Africa who have been suffering under the scourge of the Covid-19 pandemic, as it allows much broader access to the medicine, ivermectin.
In addition to SAHPRA’s Programme, which the ACDP argued was inefficient and unworkable, doctors have the freedom to prescribe ivermectin without having to apply to SAHPRA to do so, as compounding pharmacists and doctors can compound ivermectin for human use.
ACDP MP, Steve Swart says the court order should also end the questionable use of the veterinary ivermectin product to treat humans, as well as stopping the burgeoning black market sale of the medicine.
“We believe in the sanctity of human life and the well-being of the nation. This High Court application was part of our pursuit of feasible avenues which could be effective in saving human lives and alleviating human suffering during the prevailing pandemic.”
In addition to SAHPRA’s Ivermectin Controlled Compassionate Use Programme (the Programme) under section 21 of the Medicines and Related Substances Act, 101 of 1965 (the Act), which the ACDP argued was inefficient and unworkable, doctors now have the freedom to prescribe ivermectin without having to apply to SAHPRA to do so as compounding pharmacists and doctors can compound ivermectin for human use.
The ACDP and other litigating parties in cases against SAHPRA and the Minister of Health, have always correctly maintained, and SAHPRA agreed, that there is no evidence to gainsay the safety of using an ivermectin human use medicine (compounded or known tablet brand) in human beings. In fact its safety is generally uncontroversial and ivermectin medicine has been used without prescription as a prophylactic for decades.
“It is significant that the ACDP was the only political party prepared to engage in this High Court battle. We commend our legal team, as well as the other parties, including Afriforum, the “I can make a difference” (Doctors and Medical Practitioners Group), various pharmacists, and the advocacy group, SAHARI, who assisted in achieving this victory,” Swart says.
