ANP
News from the NOS•today, 14:01
The Inspectorate of Health and Youth has fined sixteen doctors in recent months for prescribing unregistered drugs against covid-19. The drugs involved ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine. Ivermectin is used against parasites and hydroxychloroquine against diseases such as malaria.
The IGJ has imposed the highest fine in recent months on a doctor who has prescribed the drugs 150 times to coronary patients. The doctor has to pay 13,000 euros.
At the onset of the corona crisis, hydroxychloroquine was administered to seriously ill coronary patients in the Netherlands. When it turned out that the drug had no effect, it was taken by the Dutch treatment advice removed. However, several doctors continued to prescribe the drug.
Past warnings
Al in April 2020 the inspectorate warned a general practitioner and pharmacist from Limburg who prescribed hydroxychloroquine to patients with corona. In March last year, the IGJ indicated that it would fine general practitioners who provide ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine to coronary patients. The inspectorate then asked pharmacists to report it.
Off-label prescriptions
Doctors in the Netherlands are not allowed to prescribe medicines for diseases other than those mentioned in the package leaflet. These are called “off-label” prescriptions. This is only allowed if protocols or guidelines are developed for alternative use. If so, your doctor should first discuss this with a pharmacist. The patient should also be educated on the alternative uses of the drug.
There is no protocol for ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine that states that these drugs can be used to fight Covid-19.
