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By Kelly jane turner 
1 hour ago
Cape Town – South African doctors can now prescribe ivermectin as a Covid-19 treatment in cases where urgent patient access is required and when a section 21 request has been submitted.
According to lobby group AfriForum, an agreement was reached with the South African Healthcare Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) that will allow doctors to prescribe the drug without having to wait for Section 21 application approval before starting treatment. .
Last week, Afriforum submitted an urgent request to the Pretoria High Court against Sahpra and Health Minister Zweli Mkhize to authorize the use of ivermectin to treat coronavirus infections.
Judge Peter Mabuse ruled on Tuesday the use of ivermectin in cases where treatment is necessary at North Gauteng Superior Court in Pretoria.
AfriForum head of research Barend Uys said the ruling was groundbreaking and an important first step in ensuring access to ivermectin.
“It is also a great victory because the decision to initiate treatment is left to the discretion of the physicians. The court order further stipulates that anyone is eligible to access ivermectin and that physicians have the right to request access to ivermectin.” . he said.
A Section 21 authorization involves processing and evaluating requests from healthcare professionals for access to medicines not registered in South Africa.
Ivermectin remains an unregistered product according to Sahpra, however doctors can request access to the drug for human use by submitting a Section 21 request.
The first petitioner for the court application, Dr. George Coetzee, said: “I am pleased with the assurance provided by the court order that physicians can demonstrate their clinical judgment to initiate ivermectin treatment when access is urgent.
Earlier this week, Sahpra said during an online press conference that he would enable a compassionate and controlled access program for the use of ivermectin to treat Covid-19.
| FORUM NEWS | @AfriForum win victory for doctors to prescribe ivermectin https://t.co/ISAfUmnrbX
– AfriForum (@afriforum) February 2, 2021
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