This article features two documents. The first is the Memorandum Circular No. 2021-03-27-054 from the Philippine Medical Association which reminded doctors to only prescribed medicines duly approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Though the memo did not mention any specific drug, it was clear that this was referring to Ivermectin as the document was made public after the Department of Health (DOH) and the FDA released statements against the use of Ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment and prevention.
On March 28, 2021, Dr. Rafael Castillo of the Manila Doctor’s Hospital wrote a scathing letter in response to the PMA memo. Here is the text of the letter.
Editor’s Note: If doctors prioritized the health and well-being of their patients, it would not be so easy to disregard Ivermectin, not when there is no cure for a disease. To a doctor who really wants to abide by their sacred oath of office, any medicine that offers relief to the suffering of their patients and their families are worth a second look.
The immediate disregard of the PMA, the DOH, and FDA of the viability of Ivermectin as a possible COVID treatment protocol speaks volumes of their true priorities. We can only thank doctors like Dr. Castillo who stand up and speak behalf of Filipinos who are in need of hope in this time of fear and panic.