KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) and the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) have urged a cessation of the illegal sale of Ivermectin which may have detrimental effects to community healthcare.
The MPS and MMA in a joint statement today said they were appalled and concerned at the widespread sale of Ivermectin throughout the country.
They was also concerned that there were some Malaysians who scoured to great lengths sourcing for Ivermectin, touted and claimed by certain quarters as the "wonder drug" that could prevent Covid-19 infections.
"Over the past few weeks, the Pharmacy Enforcement Branches have conducted several raids nationwide, which saw the confiscation of illegal Ivermectin tablets.
"This matter is made worse when certain politicians in Parliament and the Consumer Association of Penang (CAP) are pushing for the use of this drug for prophylaxis against Covid-19 infections, despite questionable quality of evidence," the statement said.
MPS and MMA added that Ivermectin drug was a Group B poison that had not been registered in Malaysia for the use of Covid-19 treatment or prevention in humans.
Ivermectin, they said, had only been approved for off-label use in clinical trials at 12 hospitals in the country.
"Therefore, Ivermectin cannot be prescribed by any doctor or compounded and dispensed by any pharmacists other than with the approved indication as per directive of the Health Ministry," they said, adding that those caught selling Ivermectin for treatment or prevention of Covid-19 could be fined up to RM50,000.
The MPS and MMA stressed that it was imperative for the public to understand that uncontrolled use of Ivermectin could cause side effects that might be damaging.
"Since the start of the pandemic, both observational and randomised studies have evaluated Ivermectin as a treatment for, and as prophylaxis against, Covid-19 infection.
"However, there are low-certainty evidence that Ivermectin prophylaxis reduced Covid-19.
"The MPS and MMA calls for such illegal activities to cease as it may have detrimental effects on community healthcare," it said.
The MPS and MMA also encourage Malaysians to trust the Covid-19 vaccines which have already shown its effectiveness in reducing the infection rate and mortality, citing what had transpired in Labuan recently.