LIBERAL MP, Craig Kelly, is free to express his opinions on the use of hydroxychloroquine, but the Australian public should rely on evidence, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) National President, Dr Chris Freeman, believes.
Kelly issued an attack on rules restricting the prescribing of the anti-malarial and rheumatoid arthritis treatment after commentators, including US President, Donald Trump, promoted its use for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19.
Speaking in the House of Representatives on Tue 25 Aug, Kelly claimed the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce had based its recommendation to limit access to hydroxychloroquine on research that did not assess how the medication "should be used".
Responding to Kelly's comments, Freeman told Pharmacy Daily that the PSA stood by its calls for limits to be placed on the prescribing on hydrochloroquine.
"The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has put in restrictions regrading the health practitioners who can initiate therapy with hydroxychloroquine, and we fully back the TGA and the COVID clinical guidelines committee," he said.
"Until evidence suggests otherwise, hydroxychloroquine should not be used for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19 outside of a supervised clinical trial.
"Craig Kelly is entitled to his views, and the Australian public is entitled to rely on the evidence, the role of the regulator and health professionals in this area."
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