State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir attends a meeting at the Senayan Parliament Complex in Jakarta on May 13, 2020. (SP Photo/Ruht Semiono)
JUNE 22, 2021
Jakarta. The affordable antiparasitic drug Ivermectin is not a cure for Covid-19, according to State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir.
“Once again, [Ivermectin] is for therapies, not a cure for Covid-19,” the minister said in a video published on his Instagram on Monday.
State-run pharmaceutical firm Indofarma has received a green light from the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) to distribute the generic 12-milligram Ivermectin drug. Indofarma is expecting to produce up to 4 million tablets a month. Each tablet is priced starting from Rp 5,000 (around $0.35).
According to Erick, Ivermectin will still have to undergo clinical testing.
“Like drugs for other diseases that have the potential to treat Covid-19, Ivermectin is still being tested for additional indications for use for Covid-19,” Erick said.
In his post, Erick also warned the public that Ivermectin is a prescription-only medicine. Its consumption also requires a doctor’s supervision.
“Never ever consume it without a doctor’s prescription,” the minister said.
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