Indonesia, major advocate of hydroxychloroquine, told by WHO to stop using it

JAKARTA - The World Health Organisation has urged Indonesia, one of the world's biggest advocates of two malaria drugs to treat the coronavirus, to suspend such treatment over safety concerns, a source familiar with the advice told Reuters on Tuesday (May 26). Any decision by Indonesia to halt use of the drugs, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, in coronavirus patients would mark a major global shift away from a treatment which has been touted for months by US President Donald Trump. Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous nation, had told doctors to use the drugs to treat all Covid-19 patients with symptoms from mild to severe. The country has ramped up production since March, granting two dozen licences to local manufacturers, which have churned out millions of doses. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a recommendation not yet made public, said the WHO had sent a notice to Indonesia's health ministry advising that use of the drugs should be suspended.

from Asia
Read More