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Studies show hydroxychloroquine does not have clinical benefits in treating Covid-19, the global health agency has said.
In a bid to bust the myth, the World Health Organisation stated that Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, a treatment for malaria, lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis, has been under study as a possible treatment for Covid-19.
However, it adds that current data shows that this drug does not reduce deaths among hospitalised Covid-19 patients, nor help people with mild or moderate disease.
In a video that went viral on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, a Houston doctor claimed on Monday that hydroxychloroquine can cure and prevent covid-19 and that masks aren’t necessary to stop the transmission of the virus that has infected about 16.7 million people globally.
Dr Stella Immanuel became an overnight sensation after her video amassed more than 13 million views before being pulled down by Facebook.
“This virus has a cure, it’s called hydroxychloroquine, zinc and zithromax,” the woman claims.
But accorfing to the WHO, "The use of hydoxychloroquine and chloroquine is accepted as generally safe for patients with malaria and autoimmune diseases, but its use where not indicated and without medical supervision can cause serious side effects and should be avoided."
On 17 June 2020, WHO announced that the hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) arm of the Solidarity Trial to find an effective COVID-19 treatment was being stopped.
The trial's Executive Group and principal investigators made the decision based on evidence from the Solidarity trial, UK's Recovery trial and a Cochrane review of other evidence on hydroxychloroquine.
Data from Solidarity (including the French Discovery trial data) and the recently announced results from the UK's Recovery trial both showed that hydroxychloroquine does not result in the reduction of mortality of hospitalised COVID-19 patients, when compared with standard of care.
Health journalist Dr Mercy Korir said Hydroxychloroquine is turning out to be the most divisive molecule of the pandemic.
"At this point, many people could clutch onto any hope, ridiculous as it may seem, because when they think of dying from an unseen microbe, anything that gives an iota of optimism is welcome."
She adds that science has no corners. It either works when subjected to the test or it does not work. Putting hydroxychloroquine through a proper research testing by medics and experts was the whole point of the trial and the results are obvious.
"While the medics are well within their right to inform the public about the results that they have seen within their practice, such anecdotal evidence cannot be used universally as the solution unless it has undergone the proper peer review."
Dr Korir reiterated that any scientist and medic worth their salt knows all too well what the process is, and especially now when the world is desperate for a solution.
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