A Durban doctor who pleaded with President Cyril Ramaphosa to legalise Ivermectin to help Covid-19 patients, says while she's hopeful about the latest developments, she still has some concerns.
The SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) announced on Wednesday that it will facilitate a compassionate access programme to allow for controlled access to Ivermectin for treatment.
Earlier this month, over 500 South African medical professionals signed a letter supporting the plea by Durban-based GP, Naseeba Kathrada.
She says SAHPRA is moving in the right direction.
"The announcement was made about the access programme but not on the actual process of how to access it."
Kathrada says until they can see how the process works, for her, it just sounds like a name change for a normal section 21 application process.
She says she hopes that it is not the case as they do not have the time.
Meanwhile, the civil rights organisation Afriforum says although SAHPRA's announcement is a step in the right direction, it is still restrictive.
AfriForum brought an urgent court application on 24 January against SAHPRA and the Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize, to ensure that
Ivermectin developed for human use can be made available, so that doctors can prescribe it for the treatment of COVID-19.
The organisation says, therefore, their court case against SAHPRA will continue.
The matter will be heard in court on 2 February.
Ivermectin is a widely used drug for the treatment and control of parasites in animals and is used to treat several tropical diseases in humans not commonly seen in South Africa, as well as scabies and head lice.
