South African Report: Ivermectin to be Accepted by SAHPRA for Widespread Societal Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic but That Won’t Matter Much

In what appears to be a bittersweet victory in South Africa for ivermectin proponents, TrialSite has access to court documents out of that country that on Monday March 15, 2021 the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) communicated to a legal challenger that the regulatory body would change its policy to accept the use of ivermectin as a means of targeting SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19. Reports are that starting Wednesday March 16, once a particular ivermectin-based product (a cream) is registered, doctors can prescribe ivermectin without having to apply to SAHPRA to do so and compounding pharmacists and licensed doctors can then compound ivermectin for human use. A victory in spirit only for a group that was taking legal action, led by the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) and an activist group known as AfriForum as they  filed court motions against SAHPRA and the Minister of Health for access to the drug. Yes, in a twist, the ingredients to produce the drug must be accessed within the country. If production relies on imports, then the Section 21 rules apply, meaning each and every treatment requires a consultation with SAHPRA. Hence from Wed...