KUALA LUMPUR: A group of six medical and consumer-related non-governmental organisations has urged the government to immediately approve the use of Ivermectin to treat COVID-19 patients in Malaysia.

The group, known as Malaysian Alliance for Effective COVID-19 Control (MAECC) claimed Ivermectin is a very safe drug that has recently been noted to have very useful and powerful benefits in the treatment of COVID-19.

The group is of the view that treatment using Ivermectin is among the alternatives to treat the virus, especially patients in the early stages

"We urge the government to position this drug and repurpose it as first-line therapy for outpatients.

"We plead with the government to exercise its emergency powers to fast track the use of Ivermectin and the appropriate supplements for immune enhancement for all individuals currently in quarantine stations and those in home quarantine too," said Dr Vijaendreh Subramaniam, the president of Malaysian Association for the Advancement of Functional and Interdisciplinary Medicine (MAAFIM), said during an online media conference today.

The conference also attended by Society for the Advancement of Hormones and Healthy Aging Medicine (SAHAMM) president, Datuk Dr Selvam Rengasamy, Dr Abd Wahab Khalid Osman (MAAFIM) and Prof Dr Mustafa Ali (MAAFIM).

Also present were Malaysia Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) president Datuk Nadzim Johan, Dr Amir Farid Isahak as an independent supporter and representatives from Society of Natural Health Malaysia (SNH), Naturopathic Medical Association Malaysia (NMAM) and Malaysian Society of Complementary Medicine (MSCM).

Meanwhile, Dr Mustafa who is also medical director of MAHSA University said Ivermectin has been used for the last four decades and more than 3.7 billion doses have been prescribed, and claimed that it is one of the safest drugs in the pharmacopoeia.

He pointed out that the MAECC is very confident that the COVID-19 pandemic could be overcome sooner rather than later.

"Our country may reopen its economy, commerce rebooted, and our people may get their lives back on track in a matter of weeks.

"It will be unethical if COVID-19 patients are not allowed the right to be treated with Ivermectin, particularly so if they meet an untimely end," he said.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had previously said that the Health Ministry and the Institute for Clinical Research (ICR) have started clinical trials to study the use and efficacy of Ivermectin for high-risk COVID-19 patients at 12 of the ministry's hospitals.

-- BERNAMA