Paris: France, Italy and Belgium acted to halt the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat patients suffering from Covid-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus, amid questions about the safety of the generic anti-malaria drug. France cancelled a decree allowing doctors to dispense the medicine, while the Italian Medicine Agency suspended authorisation to use hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for Covid-19 outside clinical trials.
Belgium’s medicine agency warned against using the drug to treat the virus any more except within ongoing clinical registered trials. It said trials aiming to evaluate the drug should also take potential risks into consideration. The moves by three of the countries hardest hit by coronavirus infections and deaths follow a WHO decision to pause a large trial of HCQ due to safety concerns. France’s cancellation, which effectively bans the drug for Covid-19, was confirmed by the health ministry. It did not refer to the WHO suspension. France in March allowed the use of HCQ - which beyond malaria is approved to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis - in specific situations for hospital treatment of Covid-19. The US has issued an emergency authorisation for the drug promoted by President Trump, among others.
Medical journal the Lancet has reported patients getting HCQ had increased death rates and irregular heartbeats. The WHO said a panel would act by mid-June to evaluate the drug’s use in its multi-country trial. Germany is looking at the the WHO’s decision but has not made any decision about new guidance on HCQ, a spokeswoman said.
