Ministry cautions against the use of Antimalarial Drugs for COVID-19

The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment (MOHWE) cautions the general public that the use of the antimalarial drugs Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine to treat or prevent COVID-19 has not yet been approved.

The named drugs have been widely used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and lupus (along with its related complaints of hair loss and joint pain).

Although both Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine have been proposed by some researchers as being possible treatments against COVID-19, this has not yet been confirmed by health and regulatory authorities.

The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment strongly urges the rational use of drugs while we await confirmation by the United States Food and Drug Administration regarding the safety and efficacy of both hydrochloroquine and chloroquine in the fight against COVID-19, should we need to use them for this purpose.

The Ministry further advises that the side effect profiles, drug interactions, pregnancy safety information and dosage information should be reviewed prior to using a prescription drugs. Additionally, individuals should have a medically appropriate reason to be in possession of prescription drugs.

The Ministry takes the responsibility, as far as possible, to ensure that recommended treatments are available or accessible at minimal costs for patients with severe and life-threatening illnesses.

The Ministry will update this release as new information becomes available.