The Ministry of Health will buy COVID medicines, which the WHO opposed

The effectiveness of the drugs has not been proven, but the Ministry of Health will continue to buy them, as they are “included in the national protocol.”

The WHO expressed concern that the Cabinet of Ministers has allocated 125 million hryvnia for drugs against COVID-19, the effectiveness of which has not been proven. The head of the WHO Regional Office for Europe, Hans Kluge, sent a letter to the Ministry of Health on Monday, December 28.

The letter states that Ukraine should reconsider its practice of prescribing experimental drugs for COVID-19, and such a large budget should be spent on the provision of oxygen therapy and necessary materials.

In turn, the head of the Ministry of Health, Maxim Stepanov, reacted in this way to this information.

We are talking about the allocation of funds for the centralized purchase of Immunoglobulin and Tocilizumab drugs. These two drugs are included in the national protocol for the treatment of COVID-19. This protocol is drawn up by our best leading specialists in our country, every day Ukrainians are treated with COVID-19, they are saved If Ukrainian specialists, using this, save the lives of Ukrainians, then we will buy and supply these drugs to hospitals so that they continue to save them, “he said in a briefing.

During a Ukrainian study on the efficacy of immunoglobulin, the drug, according to the minister, showed “a good result.” It reportedly quadrupled – from 23.6% to 6.25% – “reduces mortality in the critical course of COVID-19 and also reduces the mean time to improvement from nine to five days. At the same time, its efficacy was tested in only 66 patients “. In addition, the company has not yet released the investigation report, there is only information about its registration.

Stepanov added that these two drugs are purchased centrally due to their high cost.

Remember that previous scientists explained the decline of COVID in Ukraine. The reason is the peculiarity of the coronavirus strain that is widespread in the country, as well as the fact that people began to understand the danger and take precautions.

Stepanov also explained why the lockdown will not be lifted. The decision to increase restrictions from January 8 to 24 will not be canceled, as an increase in the incidence of COVID-19 and influenza is expected.

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