The World Health Organisation (WHO), yesterday, suspended clinical trials of the anti-malarial drug, hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for COVID-19 due to safety concerns. According to media reports from around the world, the drug has had multiple side effects such as cardiac arrest.
According to the medical journal, The Lancet, hydroxychloroquine drug is safe for malaria, and conditions like lupus or arthritis, but no clinical trials have recommended its use for treating COVID-19.
According to reports from the WHO, trials in several countries are being temporarily suspended as a precaution. It comes after a recent medical study report that the drug could increase the risk of patients dying from COVID-19. While there is still no approved treatment or vaccine for the pandemic, drastic measures that at one point saw a half of humanity under lockdown have pushed down transmission rates in a number of countries.
The WHO also warned that there could be a second peak in the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic if countries let their guards down. According to WHO, the spread of the disease has slowed down after various measures. However, the Executive Director of WHO, Dr Michael Ryan during a press conference said that the disease can jump up anytime if countries ease measures too soon.
Tshering Dendup
