Jamaica Not Using Anti-Malarial Drug To Fight COVID-19

KINGSTON, Jamaica, April 11, 2020 (CMC) – Chief Medical Officer (CMO) in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Jacqueline Bisasor McKenzie, says the country will not be using the anti-malarial drug, hydroxychloroquine, to treat persons, who have contracted the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Speaking during a recent virtual press conference, the CMO said the decision was made by the Ministry, following a recommendation, from a committee of experts from across the island, who are responsible for reviewing the technical material, which is available on various treatments that are being tried, internationally.

“We also utilise the guidance documents that are provided by the WHO (World Health Organization) who, themselves, have established expert panels to review the material that is available. As a result of our review, we have made a decision, and this is a decision that is supported by the WHO, that we will not include hydroxychloroquine in our treatment protocols,” Bisasor McKenzie disclosed.

She was responding to a question, regarding Jamaica’s position on the use of the drug.

In recent weeks, there have been raging debates, globally, about the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine in treating patients with COVID-19, after it was touted as a weapon in the fight against the pandemic.

Bisasor McKenzie said that Jamaica is aware that ongoing studies are being done, to look at the use of the drug in treating a certain set of patients.

“Jamaica has applied to be a part of the solidarity study, which is being coordinated from the WHO, and in that study, we may have persons, who fit definite criteria, who would be recruited to have that treatment,” the CMO said.

She noted that there are specific treatment and monitoring guidelines that would have to be strictly observed, in using the drug.