Sanofi is donating to the Romanian Ministry of Health 1,080,000 doses of hydroxychloroquinine, the anti-malarial drug that 'kills' COVID-19.
According to the Ministry of Health, the doses will reach over 45,000 patients in Romania. The drugs have already reached the warehouse of Unifarm, the Ministry of Health's distributor, and are being sent to hospitals immediately.
But is hydroxychloroquinine effective against COVID-19?
A French study suggests not except in mild cases or cases caught early, either way before the patient develops a temperature.
According to the Ministry of Health, the doses will reach over 45,000 patients in Romania. The drugs have already reached the warehouse of Unifarm, the Ministry of Health's distributor, and are being sent to hospitals immediately.
But is hydroxychloroquinine effective against COVID-19?
A French study suggests not except in mild cases or cases caught early, either way before the patient develops a temperature.
The cult of hydroxychloroquinine is another symptom of the long-term damage this crisis is going to cause. People are placing their faith in miracle cures and magical vaccines.
ReplyDeleteIt seems most likely that even if hydroxychloroquinine has some effect (and even that is unproven) it will mostly benefit those who were going to survive anyway. And it's possible (not certain but still possible) that the side-effects will be severe enough that it will kill more people than it cures.
But lots of right-wing Americans are convinced that it's a miracle cure because Trump thinks it is. As a result of this crisis medicine has become hopelessly politicised.
The most depressing thing about COVID-19 is that the response to it on the part of a great many people is purely ideological. It's like global warming. The debates on these subjects are not scientific but ideological.